A conversation with journalist David de Jong about the secret Nazi pasts of many of modern Germany's great fortunes -- and his warning for American business leaders
As I was reading this article I had to stop and give thought to all the Trump allies who have written books, are now talking, and knew firsthand that the man was a danger to demonocracy. But they all stayed silent. There was and continues to be a strategic alliance with Trump. When will we wake up!
Like T Jefferson said “it’s a choice between Justice and self interest.” And what choice did he make? Or Steve Jobs on the overtimed to death chinese woman sticking his iPods together, “I work long hours too.” I think the core assumption of Capitalism is that exploitation is the law of nature, it all depends on the quality and merit of the exploiter. Or apparent quality. The elites and elitists, not always the same, of US and Britain were pretty turned on by Hitler. Until Gary Oldman came along.
I have been in the field of "data processing" for over 30 years. I read this book 20 years ago and it has haunted me since because I feel like I am the only person who acts like we are in a five-alarm fire right now:
IBM and the Holocaust: The Strategic Alliance between Nazi Germany and America's Most Powerful Corporation
The parallels aren't confined to the ultra-wealthy. The focus of the Milton Mayer book linked here is on the complicity and rationalizations of the average person. I think that it is a matter of tendencies, all occurrences of fascist elements vary by the country, the culture. It is the common characteristics that are of significance.
In addition think that there is a unique danger posed by the nature of corporate structure and power. There are increasingly few counters to corporate power, and by it's nature, opacity, lack of oversight, a single aim of profit (the Friedman Doctrine) , and influence on governmental policy. (See especially Wolin, consider the effect of Citizens United). Again, a matter of checks and balances.
Amorality is just as likely to come from a powerful economic entity that is governed by private equity owners and management as it is by a powerful individual family, perhaps more so.
As I was reading this article I had to stop and give thought to all the Trump allies who have written books, are now talking, and knew firsthand that the man was a danger to demonocracy. But they all stayed silent. There was and continues to be a strategic alliance with Trump. When will we wake up!
Like T Jefferson said “it’s a choice between Justice and self interest.” And what choice did he make? Or Steve Jobs on the overtimed to death chinese woman sticking his iPods together, “I work long hours too.” I think the core assumption of Capitalism is that exploitation is the law of nature, it all depends on the quality and merit of the exploiter. Or apparent quality. The elites and elitists, not always the same, of US and Britain were pretty turned on by Hitler. Until Gary Oldman came along.
I have been in the field of "data processing" for over 30 years. I read this book 20 years ago and it has haunted me since because I feel like I am the only person who acts like we are in a five-alarm fire right now:
IBM and the Holocaust: The Strategic Alliance between Nazi Germany and America's Most Powerful Corporation
Book by Edwin Black
"Don't let short-term profits guide your political decisions."
The parallels aren't confined to the ultra-wealthy. The focus of the Milton Mayer book linked here is on the complicity and rationalizations of the average person. I think that it is a matter of tendencies, all occurrences of fascist elements vary by the country, the culture. It is the common characteristics that are of significance.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/978689.They_Thought_They_Were_Free
In addition think that there is a unique danger posed by the nature of corporate structure and power. There are increasingly few counters to corporate power, and by it's nature, opacity, lack of oversight, a single aim of profit (the Friedman Doctrine) , and influence on governmental policy. (See especially Wolin, consider the effect of Citizens United). Again, a matter of checks and balances.
Amorality is just as likely to come from a powerful economic entity that is governed by private equity owners and management as it is by a powerful individual family, perhaps more so.
(see also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy_in_Chains)