| Gangs of America by Ted Nace |
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| From its roots in seventeenth-century Britain to its modern incarnation in Enron and WorldCom, the modern corporation--restless, autonomous, and self-perpetuating--has steadily gained potency. Designed to seek profit and power, the corporation has pursued both with endless tenacity, steadily bending the framework of law and even challenging the sovereign status of the state. Where did the corporation come from? How did it get so much power? What is its ultimate trajectory? Considering the importance of such questions, it is surprisingly difficult to find answers.
Gangs of America fills the gap with a series of compelling stories, each organized around a different facet of the central question: "How did corporations get so much power?" The book begins by recounting the rise of massive British trading corporations in the sixteenth century and the settlement of America by corporations such as the Virginia Company. It describes how resistance by American businessmen against the British East India Company sparked the Revolutionary War and recounts the home-grown charter system created in the fledgling United States to contain corporate power. It then recounts how that system was undermined and destroyed by men such as Tom Scott, an obscure railroad baron who once controlled 20 state legislatures. The book pays special attention to the critical decades that followed the Civil War, describing in detail the intrigues surrounding the corporate acquisition of Constitutional "personhood." Moving into the twentieth century, it traces the steady expansion of corporate rights onto the global stage, including the political mobilization of big business during the final decades of the twentieth century, led by figures such as Supreme Court Justice Lewis Powell. The book closes with an assessment of current struggles over such issues as media control and campaign finance reform. Rather than being written in sterile, academic jargon, the book is highly readable, flowing naturally out of the author�s own questions as a businessman and an activist. Gangs of America combines cutting-edge research from academic historians, sociologists, political scientists, and legal scholars into a unique narrative that rivets the reader's attention. Book Description Surpassing even the state and the church, the corporation has become the core institution of the modern world, exercising might and muscle without regard to the often destructive effects on individuals, the environment, society, and the world. How did this happen? In this compelling expose, noted entrepreneur and activist Ted Nace scrutinizes the legal framework of the corporation and untangles questions about how and why the corporation evolved as it did. Nace traces the evolution of this institution through the behind-the-scenes figures who shaped it, including Thomas Scott, an obscure genius who invented the holding company; Stephen Field, the Supreme Court judge who developed corporate personhood rights; and many others. Including the latest research by historians, sociologists, political scientists, and legal scholars, this book is a dramatic narrative, an invaluable reference, and a blueprint for regaining control before it's too late. About the Author Ted Nace is an author, entrepreneur, and activist. He served as staff director of the Dakota Resource Council, assisting farmers and ranchers organize grassroots organizations to deal with the impact of coal strip mines and power plants on rural communities. After moving to the outskirts of Silicon Valley during the personal computer boom, Nace worked as a freelance writer for such publications as PC World, Macworld, and Publish. In 1985 he founded Peachpit Press to self-publish his own how-to guides on laser printing technology, and soon other authors dissatisfied with conventional publishing options sought Nace�s assistance in publishing their work. Under Nace�s leadership, Peachpit Press grew to become the world�s leading publisher of books on desktop publishing and digital graphics, including such million-copy bestsellers and series as The Macintosh Bible, the Little Mac Book, and the Visual QuickStart Guide series. After selling Peachpit Press to British publishing conglomerate Pearson Plc, Nace embarked on a personal exploration into the historical origins of the American corporation, seeking to integrate his experiences as both activist and businessman. This book is the result of that exploration. Note: Unfortunately, the author makes a couple of references that contain objectionable language. |