"Capitalism has a long history which is in no way associated with electoral democracy, from the first merchant societies through colonial organizations such as the East India company. Essentially capitalism confers a right on the possessor of capital to invest as they see fit without placing on them a moral or regulatory burden to act for the benefit of society as a whole. In a fascist government, corporate interests can become central agents maintaining totalitarian leaders in power to ensure corporate power remains unchallenged, often through bribery and corruption. Capitalism is intrinsically amoral having no manifest ethic for the common good, and exploitative because it empowers capital holders over those with few or no resources. It thus tends to exacerbate inequalities in which the rich gain a stranglehold over the poor."