Transnational+Corporations

What is a transnational corporation?
The mega corporations known as transnationals were previously known as multi national companies (due to their operation in either several, or a multitude of countries). Normally, they had a clear country of origin and operation, which was known as a // home country. // Th ey then held influence over other, usually much less developed countries called // host countries //. (Such as the sway UK multinationals had over commonwealth countries like Australia and Canada). But as economics have progressed, they are now usually referred to as transnational companies (because of their tendency to operate worldwide, with no clear //home nation// and the entire world as their //host nations//). Which is really great, because it lets them maximize profits, and generally ruin //everything.//

(__ALL__ the competition.)

The focus on developed countries.
A major question that immediately comes to mind is "Why are so many corporate headquarters of transnational companies based in developed countries like the United States and Japan?" The answer is relatively simple. When you look at the five major countries in which these transnational companies are based, (The United States, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom and France) they tend to be the most economically developed nations on the planet, as well as the major players during the early 16th via 18th centuries. And lo, hence comes the connection. These five were the biggest, worst imperialist bullies on the face of the planet, and were practically famous for ruining things during the expansionist era. Not to mention they were the forerunners of industrialism, and look what happened in London back then. In addition to the extremely imperialist and capitalist focuses of these nations, they are also the most governmentally lenient towards the whim of the transnational companies that inhabit them. (Mostly because said countries are 100% conditioned and enslaved by their capitalist ways, and transnational overlords). Quite literally, they are benevolent host countries, that are willing to facilitate the transnationals without much (or any) reservation.

A problematic comparison.
When looking at the very striking similarities between the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of smaller countries, and the revenue of transnational corporations- it is very easy to see an almost frightening similarity. Companies like Wal-Mart Stores and oil companies like Exxon-Mobil make almost 50 billion dollars (USD) more than countries like Norway, or the Ukraine. Even more frightening, is the fact that Norway and the Ukraine are better off than most of the countries transnational companies are notorious for exploiting/obliterating/pillaging/etc. It must also be taken into account that the GDP of a country is not entirely focused on growth, but mostly on the immense costs of simply maintaining an entire nation (social projects can cause deficits? No really?) Whereas, the immense, brandishable economic power of a transnational is focused entirely on the goal of expansion, and increasing profitability. At the cost of everyone, of course, considering because of their ways, the world is suffering most sublimely. As such, it is easy to imagine how deftly a company such as this could do away with the resistance of a small, comparatively economically weak country. You know, the ones maybe trying to make progress, but can't because they have no resources, no money, and no workers.

(Won't be long until you see more.)

Comparing the pros and cons of transnationals.

 * The expansion of transnationals allows for people across the world to enjoy cheap consumer products, except the people who might actually use them in moderation and may actually need them, as their country's economies have already been shattered by their local transnational- and as such are far too expensive for them to buy.
 * There, of course, will also be a great increase in worldwide economy in developed and many near-developed countries. Oil producing countries will also recieve a great boon, as a result of their transnational making immense amounts of money off of dotting the landscape with oil derricks- and selling it for great profit. At least until oil becomes scarce enough to reduce their country to a war-torn landscape because corporate America got tired of hiking oil prices. Meanwhile, the less developed countries are left entirely in the dust, as they have their resources and manpower exploited by other transnationals, plunging them into near-eternal debt.
 * The ability for cheap, poorly constructed consumer technology to be distributed unevenly throughout the world, so that it can be thrown out a year or so later, because it "isn't aesthetic anymore" or "doesn't run fast enough." Or maybe it just broke since the poorly fused plastic seams, made by a likely illiterate ten year old in a Mexican sweatshop, broke apart because a feather landed on it. Take your pick.
 * Growing influence of transnationals allow them to bypass governmental restrictions openly, rather than in a clandestine manner like they've been doing for the last century or so. Which of course, means more profit, and more control, since the public is cowed by their corporate overlords' power over the government. Or hey, maybe people will catch on to the whole thing and overthrow the government? Might end up being a pro after all.
 * The fact that transnationals will literally shop around for the best offer for their destructive 'services' and 'business,' pitting these 'potential' countries against each other for reasons such as less environmental restrictions- or even cheaper labour costs. Maybe even a lack of workers' unions and any figment of potential resistance to the oppressive and merciless expansion of transnational corporations.

Conclusions on transnational corporations.
After acknowledging sever key points, as well as the general mentality of these massive corporations, it is not a far leap to say that these are a primarily negative influence on the world. All of the potential pros that the transnational corps like to advertise, would only happen if they were a truly benign entity. And yet, they are not. They are a business force designed around the desire to make profit, and to expand. They have little to no care about workers rights, labour unions, or the environment, as has been shockingly apparent throughout the past **century.** Can we really trust a pack of thugs with the simple goal of imperialist growth at the expense of others- with a revenue almost 80% of the United States' GDP? (And that's only counting the ones based within the US). I really think not. And these are the people with our governments in their pocket, able to take them out and flash them like a sort of macabre business card. The people essentially in control of the entire world. It's time we do something about it. But what?

(It's funny because there actually is a Starbucks barely 500 metres away).

How do we, as a country, resist foreign transnationals?
The government of Canada, despite not being nearly as benign or appetizing to transnationals as a weak third world country, or a powerful corporate slave-nation (mostly due to our fairly stringent environmental policies- but even those are wearing thin) is still immensely influenced by these transnational corporation. They steal our jobs, our ore- our very //water// for their parasitic desires. This brings me to my final, and strongest point; the dire need for a change in Canada's leadership, not for just the good of the few- but for all of us. For the good of our glorious nation.

[|The Marxist/Leninist Party of Canada]