Off the couch

I'd been missing some sort of social conscious in my 'business' life. Sure volunteering is great and a worthwhile use of my time, however in all reality I make a living off of the backs of companies, both private and public, and spend each day trying to convince them of the value of our services.

I recommend this film to anyone with at least a mild interest in the both the business and social world. From the historical formation of the corporate entity, to the role of the CEO, to Shell Oil, child labour, FOX News, the Summit of the Americas, the WTO, clean water its a great, eye "re"openning. I was enthralled for the whole time.

I must admit however that I even surprised and disappointed myself this afternoon. As I watched the film and it fleetingly pointed out company after company engaged in illegal activity, I found myself making mental notes of the names and a commitment to check the database at work on Monday to see if any of the firms could be a potential lead for me. Makes me a bit sad that its my biggest takeaway.

Here's the synopsis:

THE CORPORATION explores the nature and spectacular rise of the dominant institution of our time. Footage from pop culture, advertising, TV news, and corporate propaganda, illuminates the corporation's grip on our lives. Taking its legal status as a "person" to its logical conclusion, the film puts the corporation on the psychiatrist's couch to ask "What kind of person is it?" Provoking, witty, sweepingly informative, The Corporation includes forty interviews with corporate insiders and critics - including Milton Friedman, Noam Chomsky, Naomi Klein, and Michael Moore - plus true confessions, case studies and strategies for change.