If corporations get person status, then I expect corporations to....

[KonaKane]

* Pay taxes as a status US form 1040 individual - no corporate tax breaks, loopholes or safe havens. Corporation pays on its gross income, period.

* Sign up with Selective Service, and if drafted in a military conflict, must go. That means relocating all personel from CEO down, to their command.

* Be dealt with by car and health insurance companies as an individual. That means that every employee takes an exam at company expense, and the exams are averaged for a single "company health status" to present for it's policy quote. Insurance company can only charge premiums for a single person. Same for car insurance; average driving records of all employees.

* Respond appropriately for jury duty if called. That means expanding juries to include several thousand people if necessary.

* If a company employee is found guilty of a crime, then the entire corporation must pay the penalty whether it be a fine, prison time or both.


Anything else?

[Meeker Morgan]

1. The Democratic Party is a corporation. Should it have freedom of speech?

The ACLU supports this decision. Care to guess why?

[lunatica]

2. OK, can you please explain how the Democratic Party is a corporation?

My question is sincere.

[NoNothing]

4. The DNC is a corporation

See for yourself: http://biz.yahoo.com/ic/122/122257.html

[KonaKane]

6. Psssst..I guess you aren't getting the joke.

sotto voce:

Our basic rights are for "people". Corporations aren't "people". They are made up of "people".

[skepticscott]

10. Where exactly does it

say in the Bill of Rights that the right of free speech is reserved exclusively for "people"? You must have the new and improved version of the Constitution where they put that part in, 'cause it sure ain't in mine.

[KonaKane]

11. Pretty clear to me...

My copy says this -

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

I cannot find the word "corporation" in there, can you? I also can find no judicial opinion that says any of the other rights designated there are not for "the people" as well as the right to assemble.

[skepticscott]

16. Nice try

Guess you didn't notice that the phrase "the people" occurs in an entirely different clause than the freedom of speech clause and does not extend to it. To argue that it does also implies, by extension, that it extends to the freedom of the press clause. Are you really arguing that only individual citizens are granted the right of freedom of the press? That Congress CAN restrict in any way they like the rights of corporate newspapers and television stations to publish stories critical of the government? No...you can't be arguing that, because that would be idiotic.

And you're right, the word "corporation" is not in there, as in "Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech of people, but they may restrict the speech of corporations" All it says is that Congress cannot abridge the freedom of speech. Period. It says nothing about who may and may not exercise that right.

[KonaKane]

17. Read for comprehension much?

I guess you missed this part...

"I also can find no judicial opinion that says any of the other rights designated there are not for "the people" as well as the right to assemble."

[skepticscott]

19. That's your answer?

:rofl:

Why don't you first respond my other points, instead of ducking them? Once you've done that, I'll be happy to make you look like a fool on this one too. Deal?

[Land Shark]

20. Every individual has rights, why should those who form corporations get to double up?

Corporations have derivative property rights but political rights are INALIENABLE - you can't give them up even if you want to - they can only be violated. Not being able to lose them means you can't give "derivative" rights to corporations since that, anyway, would only give those individuals in corporations a double voice vs the single voice of everyone else.

[diva77]

3. Will a corporation register to vote? Will it be casting a ballot on election day?

:crazy:

Oh - and will the corporation use the men's or the ladies' room?

[KonaKane]

5. Good one. Can't believe I overlooked it!

Yes, new rules.... the corporation will have pre-vote to every election, with the winner in the company vote to receive the actual singular vote on election day.

Smells almost like the Electoral College!

[lunatica]

8. You know, that's the most cogent question I've seen!

I love it!

[Ian David]

7. I expect that if a corporation orders lobster on a first date, they will blow me later. n/t

[KonaKane]

9. Corporations have a right to a safe and legal abortion.

In the first trimester, of course.

[SandWalker1984]

12. Will corporations sign up and collect Medicare and Social Security when they turn 65?

[Hekate]

14. Currently, corporations are immortal, so no. However, if they have an expiry date of 75 years max...

... then, yes.

Hekate

[SandWalker1984]

13. Will corporations get married? Divorced?

[KonaKane]

15. Do corporations have a right to marry whom they choose?

Or is marriage to be reserved for Even and Elron, not Eve and Enron?

[glinda]

18. Can they be charged with theft or manslaughter and go to prison?