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Can We Reform Corporations to Make them Responsible?

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout: Debate & Discussion' started by glynch, Nov 7, 2013.

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  1. glynch

    glynch Contributing Member

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    Corporations are largely profit maximizing beasts that ignore every thing but the bottom line. Many believe that this should be their only goal.

    If you are a tobacco company, fund bogus studies to confuse folks as long as possible into believing that smoking does not shorten the lives of millions and burden tax payers with their health care.

    If you an oil company fund phony grass roots groups to claim man made climate change is a hoax, or fund the few degreed scientists that will state it is not man made. Pour millions into politicians that will help you pollute or feed folks profitable but unhealthy food as long as possible.

    If you are a for profit prison company pour money into pushing anti-immigrant laws and support for three strikes and your imprisoned for ever etc. laws to increase prison populations.

    If you are Walmart don't renew the contract to make t-shirts with a corporation in a small town which is practically the only employer because when absolutely pushed to the wall they come in .10 cents more than in China. If China comes in .05 cents lower than Bangladesh, move production there.

    There are many good folks who do have to work in these corporations who seem powerless to change the direction of the beast. If they rock the boat too much they will lose their jobs. What can be done?
     
    #1 glynch, Nov 7, 2013
    Last edited: Nov 7, 2013
  2. rimrocker

    rimrocker Contributing Member

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    Vote.
     
    #2 rimrocker, Nov 7, 2013
  3. Rocket River

    Rocket River Member

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    No . . . they are psychopaths.

    The insane idea that they have to GROW every year is ridiculous

    Making a steady profit . . is ok . . but GROWTH GROWTH GROWTH!

    This is lead to 'creation' of new markets

    Rocket River
    Cannot grow for ever
     
    #3 Rocket River, Nov 7, 2013
  4. CrazyDave

    CrazyDave Contributing Member

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    How many psychiatrists does it take to change a light bulb?
     
    #4 CrazyDave, Nov 7, 2013
  5. Cohete Rojo

    Cohete Rojo Contributing Member

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    I don't understand the fascination between oil and AGW. Aren't there other larger anthropogenic sources of greenhouse gases? Sorry for the thread hijack, but the OP thesis was rather weak.
     
    #5 Cohete Rojo, Nov 7, 2013
  6. JuanValdez

    JuanValdez Contributing Member

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    I think you grossly simplify and villainize corporations. There are bad corporate actors out there, but there are also corporations reforming themselves (either from internal or external pressures), and activism and governance that has been successful in making corporations more responsible. I think corporations are often slower than many would like in making changes because they have the responsibility of changing in a way that is economically viable. And, of course, there will always be bad actors, setbacks, moral failings, and blind spots that corporations can be criticized for. But, on the whole, I think there is a cycle of reform that generally makes corporations act in a responsive way.
     
    #6 JuanValdez, Nov 7, 2013
  7. ArtV

    ArtV Contributing Member

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    Lobbying needs to be outlawed. It's just legalized bribery. That's where you start.
     
    #7 ArtV, Nov 7, 2013
  8. robbie380

    robbie380 ლ(▀̿Ĺ̯▀̿ ̿ლ)
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    How do you feel about corporations that do things that you agree with? Should we limit their voice as well?
     
    #8 robbie380, Nov 7, 2013
  9. glynch

    glynch Contributing Member

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    Well you do have non-profit corporations. Corporations that only care about their own bottom line and externalize as many as possible externalities are problematic.

    You have a minor point, if you are essentially saying that all corporations are not equally bad and there are a few that can maximize profit while doing good.

    I don't believe you are one of the simpletons whose only answer is: "leave it to the unregulated market because that is as perfect as will ever be achieved". What do you do about the many bad actors.

    In terms of "limiting their voice", we need to prevent elections from being bought by corporations and rich individuals, even if there are some that do well or are better than others.
     
    #9 glynch, Nov 7, 2013
  10. bigtexxx

    bigtexxx Contributing Member

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    glynch -- are you in favor of outlawing (banning) corporate profits?
     
    #10 bigtexxx, Nov 7, 2013
  11. Kojirou

    Kojirou Member

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    Anyone who says this has absolutely no clue what "lobbying" actually is. Writing a letter to your congressman is lobbying, should that be outlawed?
     
    #11 Kojirou, Nov 7, 2013
  12. glynch

    glynch Contributing Member

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    Don't be silly. No, Are you in favor of letting corporations do absolutely anything to maximize their profits?

    Allegedly you went to business school. Why don't you try to recall the business ethics class, "business in society" course or whatever. You know the one that you thought was so silly and unnecessary and would not get you a job in the type of corporation you craved? You know ethics atmosphere that turns out the guys at Enron or the Goldman guys who bet against the junk they sell their clients or the LIBOR scandal guys and all the rest.
     
    #12 glynch, Nov 7, 2013
  13. GladiatoRowdy

    GladiatoRowdy Contributing Member

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    It wasn't even an entire course, it was a small section within one of the courses.
     
    #13 GladiatoRowdy, Nov 7, 2013
  14. wekko368

    wekko368 Member

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    Do non-profit corporations typically have shareholders?
     
    #14 wekko368, Nov 7, 2013
  15. TheRealist137

    TheRealist137 Member

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    you can't stop them, but that's what laws are for. Too bad the politicians are corrupt and don't care as long as they get a nice check in the mail.
     
    #15 TheRealist137, Nov 7, 2013
  16. tallanvor

    tallanvor Contributing Member

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    if you want to end lobbying give companies no reason to lobby. Companies lobby because the government has so much power over them. Nothing will change until that is no longer the case.
     
    #16 tallanvor, Nov 7, 2013
  17. mc mark

    mc mark Contributing Member

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    Good lord son, and you have a PhD?
     
    #17 mc mark, Nov 7, 2013
  18. Johndoe804

    Johndoe804 Member

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    We could quit putting silver tongued lawyers like yourself in power.
     
    #18 Johndoe804, Nov 7, 2013
  19. Major

    Major Member

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    Yes! Just give the corporations the power directly - then no need for them to lobby! Libertarianism at it's finest.
     
    #19 Major, Nov 7, 2013
  20. tallanvor

    tallanvor Contributing Member

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    what power would u be referring to?
     
    #20 tallanvor, Nov 7, 2013
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