The Adjustment Of Policies

In the book Rising Powers, Shrinking Planet Michael T. Klare explores the subject of the geopolitics of energy in the contemporary world. He observes that the national leaders of the energy-seeking countries form their foreign policies under the influence of the pursuit of foreign reserves. Klare described it as a “hysteria over the future adequacy of reserves and outsized fears about the possibility of losing out to more aggressive procurement tactics by rivals” (26).  He provides an example of a Chinese President Hu Jintao taking a long trip through Central Asia and Africa, “currying favor with prospective oil producers” (28).  

I also see the link between Klare’s observations and the excessive corporate power and influence over government in the U.S. In the first case it was the adjustment of the foreign policies, and in this case it is the adjustment of national policy. Corporations have the immense ability to fund campaigns of the candidates. Therefore to be elected and, what’s also important, to stay elected candidate has to appeal to corporate interests. This is the only explanation I can give to the fact that the ridiculous bill on banning the undercover investigations on the factory farms was passed by the Senate Agriculture Committee and was widely approved by the House. The consequences of this legislation, if passed, are obvious – animal abuse and food safety violations will remain hidden. Corporations are pushing the ban in their interests through the people that have the power to make these decisions; and in their turn those people are eager to stay in their powerful positions and will do what they are told to.