Is this idea too radical? (regarding corporations)

[Syrinx]

I don't think that corporations should be allowed to exist as a legal entity. I think they are just an excuse to evade personal responsibility. Witness the Enrons and HealthSouths of the world. I don't think executives should be able to hide behind the veil of accounting wizards and lawyers. I say abolish the corporation!

(And I'm pretty moderate for this website.)

On edit:

(Hmm, maybe this should be in GD.)

[wtmusic]

1. Not radical but simplistic

What entity owns the assets of a company then? Do we do away with equity trading?

Never in a million years.

[Syrinx]

2. I don't know

I'm thinking more of a "partnership." What I'm getting at is the way that individuals, acting as officers of a corporation, get away with a lot of stuff that is normally illegal.

Sorry if I'm being simplistic, but I'm tired and sleepy.

[wtmusic]

3. S'okay

Something has to be done about 'the Enron effect'. In Paul Krugman's new book there's a great comparison between the current wave of American corporate scandal and that in Indonesia in the late 90's--just before all those Asian economies went bankrupt. Great reading.

[Syrinx]

4. Did you see Krugman on Maher, week ago Friday?

He was fascinating. Just think what it would have been like if Jesse Ventura had stopped interrupting.

[TroubleMan]

5. Not radical...that was the way our founding fathers had it

Corporations were only allowed in very limited forms when this country was founded, because they were seen as a way to avoid personal responsibility. They had to buy out a lot of politicians and judges to get it changed, unfortunately, in the 1800's.

[FDRrocks]

6. Are you speaking about Corporate personhood?

If so, I agree wholeheartedly!

[lostnfound]

7. You might check poclad.org

if you want to explore the idea further.

Also, one thing I've found interesting is the attitudes of our 'founding fathers' towards corporations:

"Corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed."
- Abraham Lincoln
**********************
(Thomas Jefferson proposed, unsuccessfully, that freedom from monopolies be included in the Bill of Rights, and later wrote:)

"I hope that we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our moneyed corporations, which dare already to challenge our government to a trial of strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country."
- Thomas Jefferson

Not exactly emphasized in our high school history classes, is it?

[Syrinx]

8. Thanks

That's some good stuff. (Did I sound like Johnny Carson?)