Globalization’s bottom line

Re “Who screwed up globalization?” Current, Jan. 21

Steven Weber and Ely Ratner are right to blame globalization problems on our government’s lack of creating international corporate controls. But can we really expect our elected representatives to control the same corporations whose campaign contributions got them elected? Until “corporate personhood” (which gives a corporation all the rights of a living person) is abolished, don’t expect any meaningful international corporate controls.

Corporations, through 1st Amendment rights, are allowed to contribute to election campaigns. Until the Supreme Court overturns corporate personhood, our elected officials will be voting for the good of corporations, not for the good of people.

GORDON VANDERSLICE

Newport Beach

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To say that “national governments are to blame” but exonerate corporations, which are “legal fictions,” is to cut all the responsible parties -- people -- out of the equation. It makes no more sense to blame one legal construct than to exonerate another. Corporate officers are responsible to the public good as well as to their stockholders. This is much of the basis of corporate licensing, just as elected government officials are sworn to represent the people, laws and constitutions of their constituencies.

The blaming of government or of corporations in general is laying a general blame for particular wrongdoing. Let’s hear who did what and require all to uphold the public good and obey the laws of the land. Who’s for some civic responsibility?

CARLTON JONES

Long Beach