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Yep. Corporations pollute the free market.From link:
When American colonists declared independence from England in 1776, they also freed themselves from control by English corporations that extracted their wealth and dominated trade. After fighting a revolution to end this exploitation, our country’s founders retained a healthy fear of corporate power and wisely limited corporations exclusively to a business role. Corporations were forbidden from attempting to influence elections, public policy, and other realms of civic society.
Initially, the privilege of incorporation was granted selectively to enable activities that benefited the public, such as construction of roads or canals. Enabling shareholders to profit was seen as a means to that end. The states also imposed conditions (some of which remain on the books, though unused) like these*:
For 100 years after the American Revolution, legislators maintained tight controll of the corporate chartering process. Because of widespread public opposition, early legislators granted very few corporate charters, and only after debate. Citizens governed corporations by detailing operating conditions not just in charters but also in state constitutions and state laws. Incorporated businesses were prohibited from taking any action that legislators did not specifically allow.
- Corporate charters (licenses to exist) were granted for a limited time and could be revoked promptly for violating laws.
- Corporations could engage only in activities necessary to fulfill their chartered purpose.
- Corporations could not own stock in other corporations nor own any property that was not essential to fulfilling their chartered purpose.
- Corporations were often terminated if they exceeded their authority or caused public harm.
- Owners and managers were responsible for criminal acts committed on the job.
- Corporations could not make any political or charitable contributions nor spend money to influence law-making.
States also limited corporate charters to a set number of years. Unless a legislature renewed an expiring charter, the corporation was dissolved and its assets were divided among shareholders. Citizen authority clauses limited capitalization, debts, land holdings, and sometimes, even profits. They required a company’s accounting books to be turned over to a legislature upon request. The power of large shareholders was limited by scaled voting, so that large and small investors had equal voting rights. Interlocking directorates were outlawed. Shareholders had the right to remove directors at will.
In Europe, charters protected directors and stockholders from liability for debts and harms caused by their corporations. American legislators explicitly rejected this corporate shield. The penalty for abuse or misuse of the charter was not a plea bargain and a fine, but dissolution of the corporation.
Free market is what gives them the opportunity to screw over workers, customers, and the environment. Socialism to the rescue...
in politics. So, WERE they liberal, and why do the dupes support Citizens United and corporations "being people". Totally brainwashed and ignorant as usual?
Our Hidden History of Corporations in the United States
Sounds fair to me. But obviously corporations were way ahead of, and before unions in political influence.
in politics. So, WERE they liberal, and why do the dupes support Citizens United and corporations "being people". Totally brainwashed and ignorant as usual?
Our Hidden History of Corporations in the United States
Nobody had ever heard of the welfare state lol...in politics. So, WERE they liberal, and why do the dupes support Citizens United and corporations "being people". Totally brainwashed and ignorant as usual?
Our Hidden History of Corporations in the United States
They were against the Welfare state too
Poor corps, only outspending unions 10-30 to one lol...Sounds fair to me. But obviously corporations were way ahead of, and before unions in political influence.
Totally untrue. The corporations pursued the lawsuit BECAUSE the trade unions were lobbying against them in the first place. They wanted an equal playing field. And got it.
