Reference no: EM133817857
Assignment:
Peer response to:
In examining Executive Paywatch and the wealth distribution between the highest-paid CEOs and the average U.S. worker, several vital issues emerge about the intersection of wealth, power, and the criminal justice system and the broader implications of corporate practices.
Wealthy individuals and corporations often have significant advantages in the criminal justice system, mainly due to their financial resources. For example, wealthy people can afford high-powered legal teams and more sophisticated defense strategies that increase their chances of avoiding or reducing penalties. This creates a system where the rich can access the best legal representation while the average person may be forced to rely on overburdened public defenders. Additionally, wealthy individuals are more likely to be able to post bail, receive leniency in sentencing, or even avoid incarceration altogether through plea bargains or other legal maneuvers.
To avoid paying taxes, U.S. corporations offshoring jobs to other countries is highly controversial. Many corporations set up operations in countries with lower tax rates, which allows them to cut costs and increase profits. However, this practice deprives the U.S. government of tax revenue that could fund essential public services like education, healthcare, and infrastructure. Additionally, when jobs are moved overseas, it often results in the loss of well-paying jobs in the U.S., contributing to wage stagnation and growing income inequality.
The political power wielded by large corporations is a significant problem because it undermines democratic processes and creates a system where policies are shaped by corporate interests rather than the needs of the general public. Corporations have the financial resources to influence elections, lobby lawmakers, and fund political campaigns. This results in policies often favoring the rich and powerful, such as tax cuts for the wealthiest individuals and corporations, deregulation that benefits large industries, and weakened labor protections. The Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United v. FEC (2010) further solidified corporations' ability to spend unlimited amounts of money in elections, allowing them to have an outsized influence on U.S. politics. This can lead to corporate interests taking precedence over ordinary citizens' well-being, contributing to policies that disproportionately benefit the wealthy and exacerbate inequality.
What I found particularly surprising was that corporations use tax loopholes to avoid paying their fair share of taxes. Companies making record profits often pay little to no taxes, while working Americans shoulder the burden. Multinational corporations can take advantage of global tax havens while the average worker has to pay taxes that fund public services.