[anamax]

> all that matters is power. the distinction you make above can easily be handled in terms of power: someone who can throw you in prison has more power over you than someone who cannot. restricting that to "government" adds blinders.

Since the power to throw me into jail is restricted to govts ....

> of course, java is (probably) the largest oo language, just as the us government is (probably) the largest source of power. but that doesn't stop the more abstract approach from being more useful.

As I've shown, govt power is qualitativively different.

Moreover, you're trying to use "they have power too" to ignore govt power.

And, interestingly enough, almost all of the examples of corporate power are actually govt acting on behalf of govt. And yet, you seem to think that more govt, that ignoring govt power, will solve those problems....

Yes, abstractions are useful. Yours is an excuse to ignore the big power problems of the world.