Leading by Example, by Bill Richardson: on Corporations


Corporate role is profit, not protecting national interests

The international oil companies are now a superpower just as nations once were. We cannot depend on them to bail us out. These corporations have been doing their job, and very well. It is not their job to take care of the US; it is not their job to find & develop alternative energy sources, or to spread freedom & democracy. It is not their job to defend our nation’s oil interests overseas, or the shipping lanes such as the Persian Gulf that are so critical to both the world trade in petroleum & the stability of oil prices & the world economy.

Their job is to make profit & pass it on to shareholders. That is the beauty of our economic system. It is a model that has built progress & prosperity around the globe, raising the standard of living & fulfilling the hopes & dreams of billions.

But that model cannot protect US national interests, either at home or abroad. Congress, the states, & the president have responsibility for that. It is a critical responsibility that they haven’t lived up to.

Source: Leading by Example, by Bill Richardson, p. 52 Oct 26, 2007

Government is needed to keep markets competitive

In properly functioning markets the hardest working and most innovative companies win, and the weakest lose. The goal of government is to keep the dynamic going & protect the innocent. But we also play a role in government that the market players do not: trying to assist with competition and choice that is anathema to those who dominate any industry. It’s why Teddy Roosevelt busted the trusts; it’s why we have the Federal Communications Commission to oversee the use of our airwaves; and it’s why we regulate weights and measures at gasoline pumps. People in industry don’t necessarily like it. But it’s necessary.

When oil prices rose to what seemed unimaginable heights in 2000, I thought there was a further role for government. As Energy Secretary, I felt it was my duty to act, to try to bring prices back into a safe and stable range.

I had four areas I could take the initiative: talk to OPEC; get more domestic oil; use the Strategic Petroleum reserve; and assist the hardest-hit Americans.

Source: Leading by Example, by Bill Richardson, p.147-148 Oct 26, 2007

  • The above quotations are from Leading by Example
    How We Can Inspire an Energy and Security Revolution,
    by Bill Richardson    .
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Corporations.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Bill Richardson on Corporations.
Candidates and political leaders on Corporations:

Retiring Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retiring House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R) 		Retiring House as of Jan. 2015::
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Feb 06, 2014