Editorial
Contents
America, Inc., vs. Ralph Nader Many U.S. businessmen continue to urge greater cooperation—closer relations, if you will—between government and industry. Latest example is the just-concluded 99th annual meeting of the Manufacturing Chemists Association at White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. (see page 21). At a press conference that included some of our top chemical executives, the consensus seemed to be that greater and closer cooperation— something, perhaps, more akin to a loose partnership—is critical if we as a nation are going to maintain any kind of international competitive position. Earlier in the day, Koppers' Fletcher Byrom, in his keynote address to MCA, made much the same pitch (as did Koppers president, Douglas Grymes, some weeks ago). "We need a new concept of the government-industry relationship, one in which we accept regulation, or auditing, with the public interest in view," said Byrom. But although expressing the need, no one seems able to articulate just what form the partnership should take. In such discussions, Japan, Inc., and its MITI (Ministry of International Trade and Industry) invariably are mentioned. In fact, we ourselves are fond of speaking of the "coming U.S. MITI" (C&EN, March 29, page 3). (Ironically, Japanese business leaders in Washington last week to attend the annual U.S.Japan Businessmen's Conference were doing their best to disavow the Japan, Inc., image.) We certainly don't mean this completely literally. It's highly doubtful that a made-in-U.S.A. copy of Japan's MITI would suit our needs or temperament. And from some of our own admittedly very brief dealings with MITI, we wouldn't want to see the MITI concept imported in toto. But it's becoming increasingly clear that something along these lines is needed. Industry can't be effective if continually hamstrung by its own government. And government can't be effective as leader and coordinator if it continues to harass one major sector of the economy. And this leads us once again to Ralph Nader. We have on occasion applauded Mr. Nader. We think he's been a net positive force in his crusade to protect the consumer (see Fortune, May). One of our friends calls him a "Paul Revere." Yet we've long been uneasy when it comes to Nader's obsession with the dangers of corporate power and his apparent desire to shatter it, hang the consequences. In protecting the consumer (a laudable pursuit), Mr. Nader has been aiming at humbling the large corporations. To a point, there may be merit in this. Power can corrupt. And bigness can be inefficient and unresponsive. But power can also do good. And bigness can be effective. A U.S. "MITI," building on this, could help mold a more potent national team. Interestingly, businessmen, former champions of "free enterprise," now push for closer government ties, while Nader, considered by some an "enemy" of the system, continually stresses free competition. At any rate, like any form of power, Mr. Nader's kind can corrupt, too. Mr. Nader may not understand it yet, but healthy participation by the U.S. in the growing global market is going to require a certain amount of bigness, corporate power, and linking of government and business forces. Else, Mr. Nader may have no consumers to protect. Patrick P. McCurdy C&EN EDITORIALS REPRESENT ONLY THE VIEWS OF T H E AUTHOR AND AIM AT TRIGGERING INTELLIGENT DISCUSSION.
Chemical & Engineering News
June 21, 1971 Volume 49, Number 25 Letters 7 World government Chemical World This Week 19 Quantum chemistry center 20 Oil spill surveys 20 DDT in the sea 21 Chemical economy 21 Cairns gets new post 21 Hodgkin's disease infectious 22 U.S. energy demand 22 Enough nitrogen capacity Industry/Business 23 Concentrates 24 CPI in health business 28 Industry This Week in Brief International 31 Concentrates 32 R&D in Japan Government 41 Concentrates 42 Nixon energy program Science 45 Concentrates 46 Venereal diseases 50 Acid function Education 59 Exams by computer Technology 61 Concentrates Feature 64 Salary survey ACS News/People 75 Change in ACS Constitution Newscripts 84 Consumers on FTC JUNE 21, 1971 C&EN 3
