I wasn't entirely sure where to put this thread, but here goes...These questions were authored by myself, and newcomer to AD, Funwayo.

Questions for debate:

1. Do you believe that United States and foreign coporations have a legitimate impact on US foreign policy. If yes, back it up with evidence and facts. If not, explain why.

2. If yes, what do you think can be done to curb the influence of corporations on foreign policy?

3. If no, should businesses be allowed to influence foreign policy?

Back your opinions up with facts and this should be a good one...

CP

Private corporations have a plethora of influence, both in the white house and on US foreign policy. Our nations foreign policy in the 20th century has been influenced immensely by Private Corporations. Jacobo Arbenz, former President of Guatemala, was a victim of Corporate meddling in the White House. In 1951 Jacobo Arbenz became President of Guatemala, ending the long and arbitrary rule of General Francisco Ponce. After assuming his role as President of Guatemala, he introduced economic reforms which would equally distribute the countries wealth amongst the people, these were called agrarian.
The United Fruit company, who owned 550,000 acres of land in the Atlantic coast was affected by this new approach. United Fruit's main shareholder Samuel Zemurray endorsed an anti-Arbenz campaign in the American media and Congress in order to present Arbenz as a communist threat in the Western Hemisphere. Relations between the US and Guatemala deteriorated and Internal opposition began to form. In 1954 Colonel Carlos Castillo Armas financially and military supported by the CIA, ousted Arbenz in a military coup de tat.
Curbing the influence of Private corporations on US foreign policy would be a difficult task. You must consider the fact that most of our nations Presidents and V-Presidents have had some affiliation with influential private companies. Dick Cheney was a former Haliburton CEO. George W. Bush previously owned an exploration and development company. George Bush senior worked for West Texas energy and was a shareholder of the Texas rangers. In 1953 he formed Zapata Petroleum and in 1969 bought United Fruit

Funwayo, I was speaking in more...recent terms. Is there anything that makes you believe that say, our current administration has been influenced corportations, and if you do believe that [that opinion is fairly common yet rarely backed by facts], then back it up with solid facts. I certainly see where you're coming from in giving a historical example, but again, I'm looking for something more current.

CP