Can We Reform Corporations to Make them Responsible?

Just need to separate corporation from state. Right now, corporations have too much influence in gov't. We need a way to prevent corporations from writing laws by basically bribing officials.

 

I understand that and as both an owner and employee of a corporation, a small one. What I am saying is that standard needs to be looked at more. For example it does seem like with the banking crisis some banks are being held responsible but not a lot of executives are. As I said at large corporations there seems little consequence for the actions of corporations on their executives.

 

So people will take risks more proportionate to their ability to cover the potential losses? Why is that a bad thing?

Is it ridiculous to think some projects are too big for some countries? After all, the government just takes your money and funds those projects. Isn't it fairer for people to have a say in these things on a case by case basis? Surely if the country needs a train, a large partnership can be found that would want to build it and profit off it? Why limit their liability? It's not like those losses disappear - someone has to bear that cost, and if it's not the corporation, then it's indirectly the general public.

Also, nothing would make me happier than for that "some Dutch shipping company" to have disappeared into thin air.

 

So the only things which should be funded are those which gain the immediate support of the people?

 

So you think only rich people should be able to start and own companies? Corporate ownership spreads wealth throughout society by allowing the average person to share in the profits of a large entity.

 

Are you seriously trying to claim that companies would continue following environmental protection laws if the EPA and other enforcement mechanisms didn't exist?

Delusion, thy name is Commodore.

 

This nation has a history, and in its history, the exact types of checks have been tried before, and it didn't work. It failed miserably.

 

I've always said that anyone who reads Ayn Rand should also be required to read Upton Sinclair.

The Jungle should be bundled with Atlas Shrugged

 

Look for an "Official Blade Runner Pat on the Back," judo. Perfect post given the context!

 

One of my best friend's makes these types of arguments too. Can you actually prove that it works? We've tried that before. It didn't work. I'm open to anything you've got.

 

Left gives the government all this power and is surprised when money flows to influence it.

Take away government's power to help corporations and their influence will disappear.

• Outlaw all corporate bailouts, subsidies, guaranteed loans.
• All regulations over $X amount must be voted on by congress within six months of issuance

Simple,transparent, fair.

Do this and you will see the corporate lobbyist industry dry up in a hurry. Why spend money to influence government if it has no power to enrich you?

 

Yes, since you're implying that an individual's political agenda is being promoted rather than the economic goals of a corporation with multiple chairmen of varying political views since the original acquisition.

 

So basically you want corporations running everything? How do you feel about the robber barron era? Was it an era you would like to bring back?

 

Wouldn't "So androids dream of electric sheep" pat on the back be more contextual here?

 

Entrepreneurship. The fact that people can dive in, take their ideas, use the invested money, and if that ideas fail, NOT be wholly liable for every single penny of debt, means that you can have innovation take place! If everybody had to solicit thousands of people to cover the millions of dollars required for a heavy investment, we would get nowhere in terms of innovation of any kind!

For all the successful entrepreneurs now, they all had to fail over and over before they succeeded, and they could only do so because of limited liability, that the corporation is burdened with the debt, and that they can learn from their past mistakes and build a better firm next time.

I'm as socially liberal as the next guy, but advocating getting rid of corporations is just downright silly. Do corporations have undue power in politics? YES. Should we get rid of them entirely? No.

 

Don't be a Dick, dude.