Government v. Corporations: Why the Double Standard?

I discussed this a couple weeks ago with Maximatic. I posed a question:

If individuals in government are capable of corruption and attempting to take more power than they are due, and are even EXPECTED to do so, why are those same individuals put in power of a multi-million or multi-billion dollar company, which is unquestionably a powerful position, not held to the same standard and expectations?

I believe both should be, but it seems to me that all too often "free market" advocates push for this unrestrained and unshackled market, because government overpower is dangerous, yet ignore the possibility that taking shackles off businesses will lead to a few of those businesses banding together to do the exact same thing as government.

Thoughts? And let's try to keep it intelligent.

 

This is the difference between those of us that are ideological, and those of us who are pragmatic in nature.

The person that is ideological in nature, needs to see this in black or white. It is either the government or corporations.

The person who is pragmatic in nature, needs to see the specific information, for a specific problem before they would pose a solution.

If people want to know the major source of corruption in this country, it is simple............It is the evil alliance of government and special interest.....who is driving this boat requires us to stop making statements and start asking questions!!!

 

Really dude?

Those in government are elected and are there to help the people.

Those in business are not elected and are there to make a profit.

Why would you apply the same standards to them?

 

What does their purpose have to do with the outcome?

 

Who's purpose?

Specify please

 

What does the purpose of Government or business have to do with the result?

Never once in my life when i went to solve a evident problem, did i ask myself what the intended purpose was to find a solution.

If you reckoning the problem, then you already know the purpose!

 

Ummm.. You seem to making their argument for them.

 

I respect your opinions very much pimptight even though I always laugh at your name.

In this I will have to disagree with you and call you a lump of crap however.

If you do not see the difference between what a government is "supposed to do" and what a business is "supposed to do" I feel I may need to call people with more authority than me to administer treatment for you

 

Good call

 

And they never abuse that position to get more power and wealth for themselves at our expense?

And they never collude with government to get more power and wealth for themselves at our expense?

Because individuals in government are the same as individuals in charge of corporations? Sometimes literally?

 

They're all wearing suits, right?

 

corporations are not people, they are more like mini governments

 

Interesting question and in it are some assumptions.

One would be that corporations are like government. Corporations are disparate and have to compete for business. They win or lose based on competition and market share. Their power is finite and they cannot make law.

Government on the other hand is a monopoly on power with the ability to make law. They make law that business has to follow.

If corruption exists in business, it is narrowly related to that market. If government corruption exists, it is widely disseminated and affects everyone. A good example how government can take down a market is the reduction of banking regulations and the absence of derivative regulations during the Clinton administration that helped fuel the current collapse. Government can pick and choose winners in the market as it has during this administration. That kind of power does not exist in business.

 

They only have to compete until they collude and monopolize. Gov't is suppose to limit that. Their power is not finite if no laws stop them. They don't directly make laws, but money buys them politicians who make the laws.

The people can vote the gov't out to what the people want. The laws typically made today is what business really want.

Gov't does pick winners and losers. Pretty much have always done that. With taxes and regulations. Most of those again, are wanted by the largest of corps to limit competition, especially from small businesses as the mountain of paperwork usually takes a good chunk of profits.

 

I hope you realize you made my case.

 

Corporations are like government in that they are large structured systems. Both corporations and governments are susceptible to inefficiency and corruption, especially when they are very large and powerful.

For the most part what is good for business is good for people and vice versa. But if people become less important to corporations they are not naturally motivated to act in peoples interest. It is the governments job to insure the public welfare in such a case.

Governments power has to be regulated by the public, and while people may not do the greatest job of picking leaders or understanding their own economic circumstances the whole basis of democracy is that it is good for them to have a say in their fate.

Corporations have a huge say in how and in what quality we live today. We have a lot to thank them for. But only through government do we have any say in how they treat us in the future.

 

No, he didn't.

He said that corporations, in many documented cases, are the one's rigging government.

He then asks what prevents them from manipulating the unregulated market?

Would you like some examples of how free market places can be rigged, so we can speak in specifics?

 

But it does. Mitt Romney's job at Bain was to pick winning and losing businesses.

Anyway, corporations can band together to control the government themselves. That's how all governments are formed, groups of people getting together and putting down the pre-existing government.

 

Sure it does. Money is influence. With enough of it, you can pick and choose winners just as easily as if you held a high office in government. Big business chooses winners and losers in the small business market all the time. I have competitors that can buy and sell my whole neighborhood, and there's less stopping them from doing that than there is stopping the government from doing that.