The Corporation 1

[ Silence ] [ Music ] >> One hundred and 50 years ago, the business corporation was a relatively insignificant institution. Today it is all pervasive. Like the church, the monarchy and the Communist party and other times and places, the corporation is today's dominant institution. This documentary examines the nature, evolution, impacts, and possible futures of the modern business corporation. Initially given a narrow legal mandate what has allowed today's corporation to achieve such extraordinary power and influence over our lives. To begin our inquiry scandals threaten to trigger [inaudible] debate about the lack of public control over big corporations. >> So I do think there is an overhang over the market of distrust. This 95 percent or some percent, huge percentage of the business community are honest and reveal all their assets. Got compensation programs that are balanced and but there are some bad apples. >> The media debate about the basic operating principles of the corporate world was quickly reduced to a game of follow the leader. >> I still happen to think the United States is the greatest place in the world to invest. We have some shakeups that are going on because of a few bad apples. [ Music ] >> [Singing] Some people call me a bad apple. Well I may be bruised but I still taste sweet. Some people call me a bad apple but I may be the sweetest apple on the tree. >> These are not just a bunch of bad apples. >> This is just a few bad apples. >> It's not just a few bad apples. >> We got to rid of the bad apples. You can start with Tyco. >> Bad apples. >> We know all about Worldcom. >> Bad apples. >> Xerox Corporation -- >> Bad apples. >> Arthur Andersen. >> Bad apples -- >> Enron obviously. >> Bad apples -- >> Kmart Corporation. >> The fruit cart is getting a little more full. >> I don't think it's just a few apples unfortunately. I think this is the worst crisis of confidence in business -- >> What's wrong with this picture? Can't we pick a better metaphor to describe the dominant institution of our time? Through the voices of CEOs, whistleblowers, brokers, gurus, and spies, insiders and outsiders, we present the corporation as a paradox. An institution that creates great wealth but causes enormous and often hidden harms. [ Music ] >> I see the corporation as part of the jigsaw in society as a whole which if you remove it, the picture's incomplete. But equally if it's the only part it's not going to work. >> A sports team. Some of us are blocking and tackling. Some of us are running the ball. Some of us are throwing the ball but we all have a common purpose which is to succeed as an organization. >> The corporation's like a family unit. People in the corporation work together for a common end. [ Music ] >> Like the telephone system, it reaches almost everywhere. It's extraordinarily powerful. It's pretty hard to avoid and it transforms the lives of people, I think, on balance for the better. >> The eagle soaring, clear eyed, competitive, prepared to strike but not a vulture. Noble, visionary, majestic, that people can believe in and be inspired by that creates such a lift that it soars. I could see that being a good logo for the principled company. [ Background sounds ] >> Well okay guys enough ***. [ Background sounds ] >> Corporations are artificial creations. You might say they're monsters trying to devour as much profit as possible at anyone's expense. >> I think of a whale, gentle, big fish which you could swallow you in an instant. >> Dr. Frankstein's creation has overwhelmed and overpowered him as the corporate form has done with us. [ Music ] >> The word corporate gets attached in almost a -- you know in a [inaudible] sense to and it gets married with the word agenda. And one hears a lot about the corporate agenda as though it is evil. As though it is an agenda which is trying to take over the world. [ Background sounds ] Personally I don't use the corporation. I use the word business. I will use the word company. I will use the words business community because I think that is a much fairer representation than zeroing in on just this word corporation. [ Background sounds ] >> What is a corporation? >> It's funny that I've taught in a business school for as long as I have without ever having been asked so pointedly to say what I think a corporation is. >> [Music] It is one form of business ownership. >> It's a group of individuals working together to serve a variety of objectives. The principle one of which is earning large, growing, sustained, legal returns for the people who own the business. >> Hi there. This is Mark AShbar. I produced and co-directed the Corporation and this is the official shareware version of the film. I'm proud of the fact that hundreds of thousands of people have already downloaded and shared this film. If I had a dollar for every download, well I probably wouldn't be making this appeal. More than 200 people worked on the film, the DVD, and the website over 8 years. If you support the film, please support the filmmakers too. You can make a contribution, large or small, even a couple of bucks would help at thecorporation.com. [ Music ] Thanks. [ Music ]