Stockholders versus workers et al

[welshTerrier2]

the primary goal of stockholders is to invest their capital and earn a return on it ...

this creates a conflict with other groups of people in the society ...

first, and most obviously, it creates a natural conflict with workers ... workers seek to earn more and increase their job stability ... they want a commitment that their companies will not sell them down the river and move to areas or other countries with cheaper labor ...

second, consumers have a natural conflict with stockholders ... stockholders resist ideas like class action suits ... they fight against product safety and product liability laws ... these things are a drag on profits ...

third, they have a natural conflict with citizens and the democratic process ... stockholders lobby the government to serve their own company's interests ABOVE the public interest ... stockholders spend huge amounts of money beyond the reach of most citizens trying to influence the political process by supporting parties, candidates and issues that serve them rather than the public good ...

fourth, stockholders have a natural conflict with environmentalists ... while some companies are "environmentally friendly", stockholders generally resist costly environmental laws ... stockholders resist zoning laws ... stockholders resist laws that attempt to manage natural resources ...stockholders resist costly pollution controls ...

America has lost its balance in the relationship between stockholders and other constituencies ... there was a time that the interests of stockholders was more balanced against these competing interests ... but "free market" capitalism has badly tipped that balance ... far too many Americans blindly accept the rights of stockholders to invest their money and to compete for as much as they can make regardless of the impact to society ...

The Progressive Party (of Vermont) makes the following statement:
(http://www.progressiveparty.org/principles/)

"Human labor is the key to creation of wealth. We challenge the assumed right to derive vast wealth from ownership or position."

Do you agree or disagree with them?

[David Dunham]

1. By law, corporations are to be run to benefit stockholders

[welshTerrier2]

2. by law !!

citizens can change the laws !!!

i think you missed the point ...

[IrateCitizen]

3. It's not a question of law, it's a question of basic human values...

Are we a society that values the worth and dignity of individual people, or are we a society that values the accumulation of wealth?

I already know the answer to this question, but it is what lies at the heart of issues such as this. It's just like those who expect that if our capitalist economic system were replaced with socialism, that people would stop being monsters toward each other.