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November 7, 2012

Exploitation In Action

By Michael Bonanno

Those of us who do the least bit of critical thinking will see it for what it is, a large multinational corporation exploiting kids and, then, us.

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I received a "cute" video.   I was told it would "make me smile".   

In defense of whoever originally sent this out, multinational corporations do this constantly and in a psychologically stealth manner.   I don't mean to insult the people who originally sent this out.   I understand how strong the hook is, but I believe I see that hook.   It doesn't make me especially observant.   It merely means that, having worked for a multinational corporation who used the word "empower" to mean "you're going to take on more responsibilities for the same pay you're now receiving", I know greed when I see it.

I'll entitle this video Exploitation In Action :

"At the University of Columbia, for instance, students have been unable to find out what is in the text of an agreement between their school and the Coca-Cola company.   Despite the fact that UBC is a publicly funded institution, the soft drink company demanded that the amount it paid for the vending rights be kept secret for reasons of corporate competitiveness.   (Coca-Cola also refused to cooperate with requests for information for this book, claiming that all of its campus activities --including the precise number of campuses with which it has agreements --are confidential "for competitive purposes.")" -- Naomi Klein, from NO LOGO

Muhtar Kent, CEO of the Coca-Cola Company, raked in $29,115,573 in total compensation in 2011.

So, yeah, this makes me smile in a sort of psychotic way.   It's just so heartwarming that Coke was able to "utilize" the talents of these kids to get a free ad on YouTube.   

I know, I know, I'm the most cynical and negative person you all have ever met.

It truly is a very cute stunt by people who can just as well pay for their ads and employ a lot more Americans than they do.   How many parents of those kids does Coke employ and to how many do they pay a living wage?

How many parents have been thrown out into the streets like torn dish rags; thrown away as if they were less than human by this "cute" company?

This isn't cute.   Oh, sure, Coke wants us to believe that this is cute, but it's exploitation and so many of us fall for it day in and day out.    

Those of us who aren't really doing so poorly look past what Coke is really doing with this "student project".   We look at the students and the way the stunt was shot.   What energy, what interest!   We don't give one thought to the weasels who "challenged" these kids.

And why is the Coca-Cola Company giving kids "educational" assignments?   Isn't that up to the teachers and educators?   Not when there's money to be made.

Could the project just as well have used water as its medium?   I think so.

We are Americans.   Those of us who are doing well will think that this is cute.   Those of us who are struggling won't even receive it.

Those of us who do the least bit of critical thinking will see it for what it is, a large multinational corporation exploiting kids and, then, us.

We are Americans and we will never get it until it hits us personally.   We never get anything unless it hits us personally.

Sorry to rain on anyone's parade and I hope no one takes this as an insult. They are much smarter than we are.   However, exploitation doesn't make me smile for one second and isn't, in any way, shape or form, "cute".

To friendship,

Michael

"Every increased possession loads us with new weariness." - John Ruskin



Authors Bio:

Michael Bonanno is an associate editor for OpEdNews.

He is also a published poet, essayist and musician who lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Bonanno is a political progressive, not a Democratic Party apologist. He believes it's government's job to help the needy and that leaving the people's well being to the so called "private sector" is social suicide.

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