June 5th - The Power of Capital

Can I better understand the 'dilemma of growth' (see Tim Jackson May 30th post) if I turn my attention to the question 'How can we (the citizens of the world) take back power from capitalist money'?
We rarely - if ever -  have public acknowledgement of the role of capitalist power over the democratic process.
In the UK recently an MP had to resign because he had been paid for trying to use his position in parliament to further the interests of a client.  It made the headlines, he resigned the Party whip.  We are constantly told of MP's expenses scandals.  The news hits the headlines for a few days and then it's business as usual.  This is surely small meat compared with the massive power of capital which effects (unseen and unacknowledged) the decisions of democratically-elected governments throughout the world day in and day out ...
International money can easily been moved to another country. So 'dance to our tune or we'll go elsewhere' must be a very big stick with which to beat any national government into submission if it proposes legislation which goes against the interests of a particular industry. My mind is going into overdrive now ... more money to be made out of cement so nuclear wins over sustainable energy  ... more money to be made out of concrete and tarmac and car sales so road transport wins over rail ... big money in out of town shopping so town centres are sacrificed  ...  need cheap labour so loosen the immigration rules and even (am I being paranoid now?!) turn a blind eye to illegal immigrants who are prepared to live in awful conditions for low pay to work on the fields of East Anglia. No proof of that but it seems highly probable when 'Capital is King'!
So my question 'What can we do to change direction?' becomes 'How can we reclaim our power?'  Wonder if Tim Jackson comes up with the answer ...