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Timeflyer

(1,994 posts)
Sun Feb 26, 2023, 07:48 PM Feb 2023

"The Playbook: How to Deny Science, Sell Lies, and Make a Killing in the Corporate World,"

by Jennifer Jacquet, 2022. Timely read, especially since the Ohio toxic train derailment. Written ironically as a playbook for every company executive who wants to make a fortune at any cost. It describes how corporations maximize profits when challenged by inconvenient truths about the harms the corporation is causing.

Tactics begun by Big Tobacco are still being used today, to keep money flowing in while denying and/or delaying anything that might negatively effect the business bottom line. Deny the problem, delay dealing with the problem, massage statistics to suit your needs, fund studies that support the company's desired results, hire greedy experts who'll shill for your company...the list is exhausting, and we've all seen them in use.

Regarding that train wreck--I believe it was carrying vinyl chloride.
"Other times, denial involves destroying and suppressing internally generated scientific knowledge that implicates the Corporation. The destruction or concealment of internal knowledge is easier than destroying or suppressing knowledge that was created outside the Corporation. Manufacturers of vinyl chloride conducted their own studies on animals that showed vinyl chloride caused cancer, which those manufacturers could (and did) prevent from being publicized. When independent research later showed potential harms associated with vinyl chloride, the manufacturers were not able to destroy outside results, but they could pose a challenge to them. The vinyl chloride manufacturers questioned the utility of animal studies, despite having conducted animal studies themselves, and insisted that long-term epidemiological studies on humans be conducted before regulations be considered. They suppressed internal knowledge, challenged external knowledge, and successfully postponed burdensome regulations." Ch. 1, "Denial: a Fiduciary Duty," pg. 10.


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