Recently, David Anson of the United Kingdom wrote us, noting:
"One of the issues you raised in the early part of the book was that the government at the start of the 20th century were in the pocket of large business. Now while I see that repeated at the start of the 21st century, the book did not explain how this matter was addressed as we entered the Industrial Age or indeed if it ever has been addressed."
Good point, Mr. Anson, and great issue. Our insufficient response is:
1. How governments respond to big business varies by nation.
England, Japan, Russia and the U.S. all developed different social infrastructures in the last century, and are likely to show some variability in how each responds in this century.
2. Here's how it happened in the last century.
Of course, there is still debate on whether government DID in fact free itself from domination by big business. But assuming it did (we argue in the US it did to some extent), it happened through socialists, women's groups, new laws, labor strikes and media muckraking, among other ways.
How it happened in the UK we do not know, but would like to hear from our UK readers on this.
3. Here's how it will happen in the 21st century.
We don't know. We don't know who knows. It likely will happen differently. Currently the boys are online doing all the work to make it happen. Will votes, labor unions, protests, do it again? Don't know.
Certainly there will be new laws, once again. Hurry up new laws!
What are your thoughts on this issue?