No, I never hung out with people like that.  Some of them were past bosses, others I met in connection with my work.  However, I'm not referring to the ma and pa businesses, where more personal relationships develop between the firm and its customers... AND employees.  No, I'm on about the corporate bigwigs who are so far removed from the customers and competitors they inflict so much ill will and pain upon.  They sit in their ivory towers pretty much immune to the damage they cause, so not only are they bastards, often they are unaccountible bastards who get away with pretty near murder.

As for being cynical, it was/is that type who made me so.  I also worked for small a couple of family businesses, and for the most part, they more than gave a shit about their customers and staff and would often go out of their way to see they that were happy with the products and service... the job.

See, you're the family-type business I'm talking about... you do give a shit, and for that I applaud you.

I can understand that.  The US Government is something I don't trust, either.  While I do not live directly under its rule... and I mean RULE, it's not as democratic as it purports to be, I have been indirectly affected by some of its decisions.  For example, the 'so-called' free trade agreement our idiot Prime Minister, John Howard, signed with it.  While Howard thought it was great, Australia got the shitty end of the stick on that one.  It was too heavily weighted in favour of the US goverment, the drug and oil companies in particular. 

As a result of this f**ked up agreement and US drug companies insistence, the price of prescription AND over the counter medications rose sharply... and for someone who depends on up to 8 - 10 doses per day, that's quite a chunk of money.  While we have the PBS, a Pharmecuetical Benefits Scheme to provide pensioners and low income families cheap medicines, something US drug companies tried to get abolished, many drugs are not covered by that scheme.... like one particular medication I need to help manage pain, cost me $68.00 a month for 30 tablets.  Add this to my other medications and I'm forking over $130 + a month every month. 

So yeah, I'm pissed at the US government and the drug companies who have it in their pocket.

@starkers  re: "our" businessmen exporting jobs to China.  The essential problem is that uber-businesses(men/leaders/major stockholders) are no longer tied to / loyal to / care about the country they are from.  They have more in common with the uber-rich of other nations than they do with people of their their homeland. The world is their oyster, and we are the grains of sand that make the pearls they harvest possible. They are not "our" businessmen.  We have become their wage slaves / servants.

Making the world smaller has put the elites of various nations into closer contact. Its not a conspiracy (IMHO) but the natural confluence of the elites' shared common interests - self interest.