In South Korea, the Republic of Samsung
Linked by Thom Holwerda on Mon 10th Dec 2012 16:30 UTC
In the News "So sprawling is Samsung's modern-day empire that some South Koreans say it has become possible to live a Samsung-only life: You can use a Samsung credit card to buy a Samsung TV for the living room of your Samsung-made apartment on which you'll watch the Samsung-owned pro baseball team. Samsung is South Korea's greatest economic success, and, more recently, the subject of major controversy. Economists, owners of small- and medium-size businesses, and some politicians say Samsung no longer merely powers the country but overpowers it, wielding influence that nearly matches that of the government." Campaign contributions, moles in political offices and chambers, this Samsung stuff - this is what happens when companies are left unchecked. It's cute if you think this only happens in Korea. Much of it all is legal, but that doesn't make it right.
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We may draw a parallel here...
by drcoldfoot on Mon 10th Dec 2012 17:01 UTC
drcoldfoot
Member since:
2006-08-25

This is nothing new. They're merely following suit to how Apple, Microsoft, the RIAA, and MPAA operate in the U.S.

Reply Score: 2

earksiinni Member since:
2009-03-27

Uh, no. By that logic, every small business whose owner sits on a chamber of commerce and hobnobs with local politicians is a corrupt kleptocrat.

Microsoft et al. never commanded 28.2% of US exports, nor have I ever heard anyone claim that "Microsoft owns the entire US government". A more appropriate analogy might be to Standard Oil, and even then I don't really know.

Scale matters.

Reply Parent Score: 4

Bill Shooter of Bul Member since:
2006-07-14

It used to happen on a smaller scale in "company towns". Some towns are still like that where one company is largely responsible for the vast majority of the economic activity. When they shut down, the town pretty much dies.

Reply Parent Score: 6

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