Social Justice In Corporations

Since the 1950's corporations have spread their tentacles across our great nation of once independent businesspersons. Corporate giants have gobbled up or plowed under untold numbers of small businesses in the name of growth, progress, and capitalism. Is this really what the world needs or is it just greed on the part of the big businesses and stockholders? And let's not forget that anyone who owns stock of one type or another is part of that group also. If one's 401K is invested in large corporations then that person is part of it. Not only that, if the stock is in a company that participates in off-shore importing or or off-shore jobs, that stockholder is a part of that also.

We need a return to corporate stewardship that values America, its people, its culture, and its ability to grow and enrich itself. I envision a corporate structure that is based in social justice values and holds certain rules regarding size, ownership, and the corporate culture toward its employees, its customers, and the community. In my vision once a company reaches a certain size it must split and distribute the two parts to its owners who are its employees. Yes, that's right the employees are the owners. Why not? Every company is built off the backs of its employees and what better way for a company to enrich and make loyalty flourish and grow.

For the most part when social justice issues are looked at the major items that come to mind are homelessness, food, clothing and jobs. I would maintain that the corporate culture and greed are the biggest problem in perpetuating many these issues. The lack of housing, food, and clothing are the symptoms not the problem, at least not in and of themselves. Throw in the issues surrounding crime, prisons, and disenfranchisement and the social justice problems grow astronomically.

Those are the basic ideas to be addressed in a thesis I am currently working on that I am confident can and will produce a template and model for a new style business model. A model that defines its business culture as proud and bold and positions itself as "good corporate citizentry" and is an asset to every owner, every employee, and every customer it services. And as I progress I can attach new concepts and strategies to other social justice issues as well.

In future blogs I will share much of the research I have discovered regarding social justice. Much research has been done within the confines of the United Nations, microbanks, and charitable organizations throughout the world. It's time to bring this information and knowledge to the fore and act upon it.