Need some research ideas from DU'ers!

[TornadoTN]

As part of the requirements in my MBA program, I am required to undertake a significant research/thesis project dealing with issue pertinant to the business world. Since it seems to be such a major aspect of the political landscape today, I have chosen to study the influence of business in government and the ethics or lack thereof associated with it. Needless to say, there is not a shortage of information out there on lobbying and business influence in the government.

Since there is so much information out there, I am interested in getting ideas from DU'ers about specifically which instances of lobbying efforts or scandals that are the most important to you. As a disclaimer, I am not asking for any assistance in doing the research, but merely soliciting suggestions on topics to cover. I felt that coming to the DU community of which I am a proud member and asking for your suggestions, I could get some particularly useful ideas that I might not have considered. This is important because I am approaching this project from a perspective that Corporate Repsonsibility and the pursuit of profits are not mutally exclusive and that businesses have a responsibility to make decisions that are not only in their best interests, but in the best interests of the greater good of society.

At any rate, I would like to thank anyone that has a suggestion in advance, your ideas are greatly appreciated! DU is in my opinion, the smartest and most informed community on the internet when it comes to politics and current events.

[Marie26]

1. Halliburton

You could write ten thesis about all the things they're doing & it perfectly illustrates the dangers of Corporate irresponsibility.

[babylonsister]

2. Anything Abramoff and (nefarious) lobbying efforts could

fill a book, and that would be of interest to me, especially the final results once all the dirt is in and litigated.

[TornadoTN]

4. Oh yes, Abramoff is quite a study

That is an area I would like to tackle, but I feel I can't really get into the "meat" of the matter and present it as an academic work without the issue playing out a bit further.

You are right though, tackling this issue thoroughly may amount to a work similar in scope to Tolstoy!

[bryant69]

3. What is your thesis?

I mean what are you hoping to argue with your paper?

But if you are looking for something timely you might look at the narrowing of the internet pipe being mulled over. http://gratefuldread.net/archives/cat/001467.html

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[TornadoTN]

6. Thanks for the link

To answer your question, this is not my "official" thesis as most people would consider in the traditional sense. This project is more along the lines of a research project that is bit more argumentative in scope. I am hoping in this project to illustrate through case studies the shortcomings of business lobbying in todays government and present a more balanced solution to business lobbying, where the pursuit of profit is not the only responsiblity of corporate interests.

[Canuckistanian]

5. What about the "revolving door policy"?

Where former lobbyists become appointed government officials who become even better lobbyists.
(Example: Joe Allbaugh)

And what about all the laws and policies written specifically BY corporations?

[TornadoTN]

7. Great input

I have some excellent material on the Allbaugh situation, so that is definately going to be an integral part of the work.

There are so many laws and policies written by corporations (or on their council) that I am going to have to narrow the list down considerably.

[John Q. Citizen]

8. What leads you to the assumption that "Corporate Responsibility

and the pursuit of profits are not mutually exclusive and that businesses have a responsibility to make decisions that are not only in their best interests, but in the best interests of the greater good of society."

My understanding is that corporations have but one stated explicit responsibility, and that is the fiduciary responsibility to their investors.

[TornadoTN]

11. But it still is not mutually exclusive

It is certainly true that the fiduciary responsibility to investors is the primary responsibility of corporate interests, however, it is certainly not the only responsibility that they are held to account. We can see through the labor movement, the environmental movement and the business reformation movement that other influences are exerted on the company to take into account the consequences or effects that their actions can have on society. It is a balance that must be achieved by responsible corporate leadership. In my opinion, competent leadership can ensure maximum profitability while at the same time contributing to the betterment of society as a whole.

[John Q. Citizen]

18. I don't believe that all corporations are detrimental to society,

only that corporations have absolutely no implicit or explicit responsibility to be beneficial.

There are corporations who use a "beneficial to society" business model. this is well and good, but is purely dependent on the good will of the owners of the corporation.

All corporations claim to be beneficial to society, from the worst to the best of them. I'm sure Halliburton honestly believes building internment camps is a valuable contribution to a safe and secure society. But that doesn't make it so.

As for events beyond the control of corporations (such as labor unions, the environmental movement, etc) being misconstrued as "Corporate Responsibility," well believe me, if the corporations actually had a responsibility to to these things, then there would be no labor unions or environmental movement because they would be unnecessary.

My belief is that if corporations were under any kind of mandate to be socially responsible, corporations would cease to exist. The only reason to have corporations is to amass wealth while limiting liability to the stockholders and the management. The idea that there is some kind of intrinsic social good built into the corporate model is naive at best. There is only the framework to amass wealth and limit liability built into the corporate model. Any benefit to society as a whole is either accidental, a marketing device, or the personal desire of a powerful individual or group running a corporation. It has zip tio do with our current corporate model.

[TornadoTN]

19. I don't disagree with your point

But in a functioning society, business does have a responsibility to the outside interests of society if they are to survive. Now, I do not dispute that businesses will skirt these influences or actively work against them, but if society still values labor rights or environmental standards, then the businesses are forced to comply.

To imply that I am somehow "naive" to suggest that business has a responsibility to the greater good of society is a bit disingenious and curious. If you are merely looking at corporate business model, then you are correct, they have only one purpose and that is profit. But when viewed in the broad sense of society, community and environment, then they are most certainly interested in the greater good of society.

Again, I'm not calling you out or even disagreeing with your point, as a matter of fact, I agree with it. But the fact still remains that business still has to weigh corporate interests against the interests of the community/society/etc. It is a device of marketing. It is a device of personal ambition of leadership. The corporate model may be quite simply a tool towards profits, but in a functioning and free society, business must weigh those interests carefully and make decisions with that in mind. That is the premise behind the paper to some extent, to illustrate where some business has failed to make sound business decisions and worked towards special interests.

[John Q. Citizen]

21. I did not intend to come off as disingenious at all, I was only

arguing my point that your premise is flawed. There is no inherent reason for corporations to take the greater good into account. There are only, possibly, temporal reasons to do that.

At this point in time in our country, corporate power is so out of whack that they install the government of their chosing, the public be damned. And since they install that government, the government is beholden to the corporations, not to people.

So at this point, it doesn't make a difference if society values labor rights, or environmental standards, because the power of the corporations in relation to the public, is so much greater that the public can't, as a practical matter, compete.

So perhaps your thesis could be on what it would take to restore a balance between the rights of people and the rights of corporations.

As you are probably aware, corporations historically were severly limited by law in this country just because of the inherent power differential between corportions and individuals. So there is a lot of data available.

[TornadoTN]

22. I appreciate the input

I find it humerous that after our exchange, it appears we are on the same exact page. When you said "because the power of the corporations in relation to the public, is so much greater that the public can't, as a practical matter, compete", that summed up exactly how I view the current business environment and its relationship to the government.

Thanks for the debate!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

9. I think the unholy alliance of drug companies and insurance companies

is of most concern to me, because I believe it is the connivance of these two groups that has kept us from having National Health Insurance. In 1968, I was required to read a book called "Who Rules America?". It was about the undue influence of drug and insurance companies on our government, and stressed, if memory serves, the conservativeness of Eli Lily and Co. You might wish to research this because it has been going on for so long, and there was documentation about it even 36 years ago.

[TornadoTN]

13. Bingo

Thanks for the input. I just finished reading "Who Rules America" and it is an outstanding work that paints a rather disturbing picture of corporate American and their influence on government, especially when you consider that it was written well before what we consider "current" events.

I am leaning between making the drug and insurance companies or the defense industry the primary topic of my paper. Such a tough decision!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

14. Well, when you realize I read that book 36 years ago,

still remember the title and some of the key points, you know it has had quite an impact on me. I haven't read it since, but I'm glad to know it is still in print.

But I agree that defense is an equally noxious topic-either would be good.

[TornadoTN]

16. It was a stunning work to be sure

If anyone is interested, the author is G. William Domhoff and published by McGraw-Hill. Interestingly enough, it is a required reading in my Corporate Relations class and everyone in my cohort felt the book was outstanding.

Also, "The Power Elite" by C. Wright Mills is another good read dealing with the same topics.

[yewberry]

10. How about Enron?

It is less timely, but then that may mean that there is more out there in terms of distanced observation and also released documentation.

The Enron story has elements of corporate greed vs public good, and makes clear the extent to which the pursuit of profit can be taken. Also, given the time that's passed, you'd be able to document both prosecutions and the stories & situations of former pension-holders.

"Ethics or lack thereof"--Enron certainly fits that to a tee.

[Norquist Nemesis]

12. The easiest to cover, IMO, is Healthcare

A comparison of other countries with nationalized healthcare vs. the US in spending and effectiveness for the social advantage/disadvantage; a look at how US companies who are moving jobs to other countries with nationalized healthcare gain direct benefit by putting the cost off on the rest of the society while getting the compliment of a healthier working force.

Healthcare is huge as an umbrella: Insurance (biggie), Pharmaceuticals (and the marketing dollars that incrase the cost of prescriptions), Patient Care (from the General Practitioner up to the for-profit hospitals), Pediatrics (and how healthcare for them is looking at the future workforce), Disabled and Elderly, etc.

Good luck!

[OneAngryDemocrat]

15. Dubai Port Fiasco, and Palestine, and Israel...

How can the United Arab Emirates, which does not recognize the State of Isreal, rate gaining control of six American sea ports, but Palestine has all US funds PULLED, because their democratically elected government won't recognize Israel?

Money?

Hmmm...

Visit my web page, www.shockedandawful.com

[TornadoTN]

17. Another great idea

I was just reading some articles by David Sirota dealing with the port issue. This, too, would be an excellent topic to explore.

You guys have not disappointed me in the least with your ideas! My only complaint is that I have so many ideas now, its going to be even harder to narrow them all down! Thanks again!

[CabalPowered]

20. I think the IBM sellout to the Chinese gov't (Lenova)

would make a great research topic.