As late as 1978, in First National Bank vs. Bellotti, the Supreme Court, by a bare 54 majority, held that corporations had a constitutional right to spend money to influence the outcome of an election. The most common measure we hear touted, especially by corporations, seems to be GDP gross domestic product. GDP fails to reflect many of our national interests things such as infant mortality, availability of health care or literacy rates, among many others. One of the betterknown spokeswomen on this issue is Marilyn Waring, a former member of the New Zealand Parliament, university professor and political economist. Kill competitors for cash.
Cooperation is for wimps.
And to hell with serving the public good. This begins several columns on these issues, which will tie them to technology and public policy. They will include ample information and proposals to excite and infuriate progressives, liberals, conservatives, libertarians and members of both branches of the omnipotent Corporate Party. Jim Warren founded InfoWorld, was founding host of PBS' Computer Chronicles television series, founding editor of Dr. Dobb's Journal of Computing and served five years on the board of directors of Autodesk Inc.