I can think of

The religious head and his subordinates-the people.
- Like current day Sankracharyas and the followers

The clan chief, warriors, and people.
I think the Chettiars had a clan chief who would arbitrate on various issues. The chettiars were and are a pretty strong, rich and closely knit community

Of course, there’s always the King=God and his ministers.

For more, here is a dictionary definition of the word.

I have been reading Anarcap for a while and generally enjoy the debates and find the posts very enlightening. I have however noticed a trend which I’d like to ask Yazad about. In almost every single post Yazad (and others) are always on the side of the corporation - NO MATTER what.

- Smoking - its not Phillip Morris’s fault, its teh individual smoker
- California Energy crisis - not Enron’s fault, its the stupid anti-gouging regulations
- Food - its not McDonald’s fault
- Bgopal - its the stupid Indian Govt. not Union Carbide that caused the gas to leak.

The list can go on and on on almost every post where a corporation is involved. So here’s my question to the cartel - Is there any situation where a corporation has actually done (god forbid) wrong? Or are they all just perfect - smoothly functioning machines who as long as the are allowed to run freely will always be good?

Just a quick rejoinder here: What makes you think that way? For example, on AnarCapLib, Enron has been mentioned only twice, and both times in a negative light. Yes, the Maharashtra government was complicit in the case, but we’ve never said Enron was lily white!

We’ve never discussed Union Carbide here. So two of your examples are “straw men” put up by you.

Another question to ask is the concept / definition of “fault” — what do you mean when you say Phillip Morris or McDonalds are at fault? What fraud are they committing? I’m not saying that corporations are perfect or even always good (actually they’re not), but it helps to know exactly what crimes you attribute to them.

I don’t want to start a debate on the issue here. Would like to have a frame of reference only.

Accountability:

Panchayats?
Police?
Mobs/groups?(which seems to be an increasing occurence!)
Law?

People’s Representation:
—-
As far as I know, people’s Representation hs always been through a dominant personality who asserts his/her right to lead either through force or through respect.

And I think, there has never been the case of two heads sharing responsibility. It has always been one trying to subdue the influence of the other.

Philip Morris - How about felony to start with?

Btw, regarding power structures, I do’t agree that the Shankaracharya system is a power structure. What power does he have? Compare him to the control exercised by Imams and Ayatollahs in Iran, for example. The ones listed below have a huge economic impact as a direct consequence of their social power.

- Syedna (Bohra muslims)

- Patil/Panchayat or equivalent.
Parallel judiciary

- SGPC (Akali body which has the right
to excommunicate or pronounce
judgements)

- Matriarchal tradition - Namboodris (?)
in Kerala. Land is bequethed to the
daughter.

- Bishnoi tribe - power over fertility
(polygamy), pacifism.

- Yellamma tradition - “devout”
prostitution. Enormous economic clout
based on social coercion. On a related
note, some of the more dismal aspects
of the devadasi tradition can be
added.

More later.

“People must vote everyday over issues and solutions, instead of every five years for one undependable individual whose moods, whims and vicissitudes define five years of policy and action.”