We have a huge challenge: Corporations provide millions of jobs...

[brush]

Last edited Sun Mar 22, 2020, 04:35 PM - Edit history (1)

we have to figure out how to regulate them effectively so they contribute to a robust safety net for all and not just be about maximizing profit—a fair profit, yes, as they have to have an incentive for staying in business.

We certainly can't do away with them without doing away with the livelihood of millions of workers.

This crisis is our chance to re-organize society in a more fair and equitable way. We of course have to win the WH and Senate to overcome repug obstruction.

That means all Dems, including Sanders' supporters and Sanders himself, have to rally behind Joe Biden to get the general election campaign going.

[CrispyQ]

1. We the People need a national campaign to revoke corporate personhood.

Corporations are the only non-human entity to have Constitutional rights just like We the People. All other non-living entities, such as labor unions, non-incorporated businesses, churches, civics groups, and governments, only have the privileges that WE grant them. Problem is, corporations don't need things like clean air, fresh water, healthy food, health care, child/elder care, education, or even an environment that supports them. Corporations can "live" forever. Their longevity, wealth, and power amplify their rights. The founders never meant for corporations to have Constitutional rights just like We the People.

Slavery is the fiction that people are property.
Corporate personhood is the fiction that corporations are people.

~from Reclaim Democracy

Reclaim Democracy's Corporate Personhood page: There's some really good reading on these pages.

This PDF timeline needs updating, but it's a good overview of human rights vs corporate power up through the 90s.

And here's a one page primer from the Sierra Club for those with limited time: Meet the Corporation

Revoke corporate personhood.

[brush]

4. Of course, agreed.

[MineralMan]

11. The Sierra Club is also a corporation.

https://www.sierraclub.org/articles-incorporation

[CrispyQ]

16. And your point is? -nt

[Hoyt]

2. Believe we will come out of this a lot closer to Scandinavian countries when this is over.

That's a good thing.

It is encouraging to hear right wingers -- like trump -- "saying" he supports prohibition on stock buy-backs and bonuses to CEOs for companies that might receive assistance.

Sadly, I suspect we are going to look at all those $12 - $17 an hour jobs that were criticized up until last month, as the good ole days.

[rocktivity]

3. We have to figure out how to RE-regulate them effectively

since they slowly but surely purchased their de-regulated status via political influence.


rocktivity

[BidenBacker]

5. Tell corporations if they need to raise cash then sell some of their damn stock back

Airlines and Boeing want a bailout — but look how much they’ve spent on stock buybacks

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/airlines-and-boeing-want-a-bailout-but-look-how-much-theyve-spent-on-stock-buybacks-2020-03-18

These greedy clowns used their tax cuts to buy back their stock and artificially inflate the markets...thus enriching CEOs, board members and rich investors who didn't have a thing to do with the actual production of goods and services like the actual workers did. If that drives the price of their stock way down then oh well, tough shit...that's just capitalism and free markets for you.

When the stock gets low enough then maybe more of the middle class can buy some shares of their own so that when the economy recovers they too can participate in reaping some of the gains for a change. Getting pretty fed up with this GOP Ponzi scheme.

Privatizing the profit and socializing the risk is getting pretty damn old pretty damn fast.

[sandensea]

6. And that bailouts will only be in the form of partial - if not outright - nationalizations

You want a $100 billion? Fine - but we now own $100 billion of stock in your corporation. If that's your entire market cap, so be it.

It'll never happen - but it would be the only way to assure compliance with the terms of the bailout.

Many CEOs and board members - as you know - feel they're gods among ants, and are therefore incorrigible. Just like Orange Amin.

[BidenBacker]

7. I like the way you think

sandensea for Joe's VP!

Has a nice ring to it...and it even rhymes.

[sandensea]

15. Likewise!

Thank you for the endorsement!

If nominated I shall not run, and if elected I shall not serve - but I'll still share my thoughts on DU, that's for sure.

[Cha]

8. KR!

[comradebillyboy]

9. Overthrowing capitalism will just have to wait...

[brush]

12. Highly regulated, robust, safety net capitalism, please.

[comradebillyboy]

13. American capitalism can definitely be improved but

Dems will need substantial congressional majorities and a strong president to do it.

[brush]

14. Yes, we have a good chance at it now as trump has botched...

this so badly. .

[MineralMan]

10. Really, most jobs are with corporations.

Even local jobs at small businesses are usually corporate jobs. Businesses incorporate to reduce liability for their owners. So, even the small companies people work for have Inc. as part of their names.

These days, it's rare to have a real job that is not for a company that is a corporation. Even non-profits are incorporated, in most cases.

People don't think about that very often. They're so busy being angry at Amazon or General Motors that they forget that the local HVAC company or restaurant is also a corporation. It's a rare business that isn't these days, for many reason.