[juuular]

Facebook, Amazon, and friends certainly seem on track to give governments a run for their money. Facebook itself has directly led to genocide multiple times. Amazon wouldn't bat an eye at such atrocities if they were socially accepted and good for the bottom line.

Corporations might do it for a different reason — seeking capital above all else — but the end result is the same.

Any organization that gathers enough power would be capable of bringing about a Chinese Great Leap Forward, a Soviet Holodomor, or a German Holocaust.

Some of the worst abuses in history were made possible by the invention of the corporation. Ever hear of the East India Company? They are responsible for 100s of millions of deaths, many genocides, and the eradication of entire cultures.

The difference is that we now regulate corporations to hopefully prevent this level of power and abuse. We seem to be moving towards a new era of East India Companies though, so I'm not sure why you think only a "government" could commit atrocities.

Hell, the Irish famine was caused by the British adhering to free market principles. In that case corporations and the government teamed up together to kill 15% of the Irish population for no particularly good reason.

Governments do not have a monopoly on atrocity.

Edit: Nestlé probably has a bodycount approaching the governments you listed.

[dragonwriter]

> Some of the worst abuses in history were made possible by the invention of the corporation. Ever hear of the East India Company? They are responsible for 100s of millions of deaths, many genocides, and the eradication of entire cultures.

“The corporation” in general is, and the British East India Company in particular was, a tool of government, not an opposing force.