G21: Thank you for granting this interview. A lot has been said about how "Everybody ends up workin' for The Man," that "The Man took my house," and other such accusations. How do you feel about this?
THE MAN: Damned proud! I have taken my share of homes and, if you dig deeply enough, I believe, you'll find that One Corporation's penetration around the globe is at least as widespread as that of the Internet.
Still, our mission remains to own everything. Everything.
I won't be content until I can honestly say, `This is my world.'"
G21: So you're proud of the reputation you've developed?
THE MAN: Exceedingly. I've worked long and hard to get my message out.
Still, there remain those backward-looking interests who fail to accept the concept.
For example, just as we determined that nationalism, with its barriers to the free flow of trade and information like unnecessary and prohibitive tariffs and standards, its jingoistic insistence on "Made in My Country", was bad for Business and progress and efficiency.. Well, now there are those who still cleave to the idea that wage diffentials are somehow beneficial...
G21: Wage differentials?
THE MAN: Unionism and such notions.
The primary goal of One Corporation is to achieve the end of the inefficient geographically determined inequality in the cost of production created by wage differentials. We want to see one job-one pay-scale worldwide.
G21: So you're saying that there should be a unitary wage-scale, globally, irregardless of cost-of-living differences?
THE MAN: "Cost-of-living" is an arbitrary designation driven by wage-scales.
If everyone in Bogota, Jakarta, and Phoenix all made the same wages, things like rent, foodstuffs, and clothing would be forced, naturally, to rationalize by the mechanisms of the market. That should be transparent, even to a journalist.
G21: If I hear you correctly, sir, what you are saying is that if all workers were reduced to penury, those who provide their essential needs would be forced to adjust to that environment.
THE MAN: Exactly! And that process will increase the availability of productive capital.
G21: ... with which you could then acquire other corporations?
THE MAN: Don't try to put words in my mouth.
You're too young and too powerless.
G21: Oops!
THE MAN: Has anyone ever told you you're a wise-ass?
G21: Before this interview? Why would anyone say that about me?
I'm the soul of respect. I genuflect before your insight.
THE MAN: I could have your ass thrown out of this jet and splattered over three continents.
G21: Can I retract that last statement? I forgot we were 50,000 feet above ground.
You are Da Man! Da Man!
Nobody's got nothin' on you! This is your world, and we are just living in it!
[TO BE CONTINUED...]
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IRISH EYES: Part 2 of JOE O'NEILL's assessment of an end to "The Troubles" in Ireland. With a special commentary by our Editor.
POWERSBOOKS: BOB POWERS harkens back to the days Poe's form, the Short Story.
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