Private Prisons and Presidential Politics

http://www.nationofchange.org/private-prisons-and-presidential-politics-1350654639

A recently publicized audio recording of Mitt Romney’s conference call with members of the republican-friendly National Federal of Independent Businesses raises concerns over the often symbiotic relationship of business and politics. In fact, the subtext of this entire election cycle has more or less been a debate between how best to balance private gain demanded by capital and public good required of a democracy.

Throughout his 29-minute call the former Massachusetts Governor provoked business owners to own up to their political beliefs at the workplace. “I hope you make it very clear to your employees what you believe is in the best interest of your enterprise and therefore their job and their future in the upcoming elections. And whether you agree with me or you agree with President Obama, or whatever your political view, I hope, I hope you pass those along to your employees.”

Although the somewhat histrionic recording has gone viral, it misses the point. Even if employers refuse to articulate their political predilections to their employees, campaign contributions made on behalf of their businesses are clear enough to decipher.

Take one look, for instance, at Corrections Corporation of America (CCA), the nation’s largest publicly traded, private prison firm. In an October press release entitled “Presidents, Politics, and Partnership Corrections” top CCA officials, including CEO and President Damon Hininger, spoke in florid, if disingenuous, generalities concerning the upcoming presidential election. When asked to recommend how employees should show their support for CCA at the polls, Hininger responded, “…the biggest thing is to just participate, period. It’s an awesome responsibility [and] we all have to participate in the election, simply by voting in primary and general election. It’s a wonderful aspect of our democracy to have a say at the federal, state and local levels.”