Advertising Quote by Lewis H. Lapham
“Let the corporations do as they please -- pillage the environment, falsify their advertising, rig the securities markets -- and it is none of the federal government's business to interfere with the will of heaven.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The New Yorker, “The Government’s Role in the Environment”, 1995
The author criticizes laissez‑faire capitalism, arguing that corporations exploit resources and markets while the government stays hands‑off, invoking a fatalistic view of authority
In simple terms: Corporations act unchecked; government does nothing
Key Takeaway
Advocate for stronger regulation and corporate accountability
Themes
politics
environment
economics
Mood
critical
concerned
analytical
Type
political
environmental
When to use this quote
- policy debate
- environmental activism
- business ethics
Key Concepts
deregulation
market failure
government inertia
Questions to Reflect On
- What mechanisms can ensure corporate responsibility?
- How should government balance freedom and protection?
A Different Perspective
Market forces alone cannot ensure ethical behavior
![“[For American consumer society], the country's reserves of ignorance constitute a natural resource as precious as the Mississippi River or the long-lost herds of buffalo.” quote by Lewis H. Lapham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6b0/lewis-h-lapham-7190_buffalo_for-american-consumer-society-the-countr_157122.jpg)
