Are Corporations people?

I don't think so. They are governmental constructs for ordering business in a structured direction. They should not have rights in the way that people do. They have to work within the limits of what the people allow.

Despite it seeming to be an obvious distinction, they are in some ways treated like citizens. They can make political donations. Each of their employees can also make their own donations. If you grant them the same rights as a citizen, they would have the right to free speech, which could allow them to say all sorts of dishonest things. Of course, there are special limits put on them too. For instance, if they have the right to speech, then why are they forced to label ingredients on food products? They might get away with not having to if they fight it as unconstitutional because of it limiting their speech and putting specific restrictions on their property rights.

Do I think that is likely to happen in the foreseeable future? No. But it's a situation that should not exist. That possibility shouldn't even exist.

If you agree that they aren't people and that they should not have the same rights as people and that they should have certain limitations like campaign contributions, you might want to sign this petition by Bernie Sanders to have an amendent put before Congress to declare that corporations are not people.

If you disagree with that belief, I'd like to hear the reasons why.

http://sanders.senate.gov/petition/?uid=f1c2660f-54b9-4193-86a4-ec2c39342c6c

You know what IS people?

Soylent green. Its people.

Well, according to Dartmouth College vs. Woodward... :?CaptainAhab13

Well, according to Dartmouth College vs. Woodward... :?CaptainAhab13

That's ridiculous enough, but saying spending is equivalent to political speech is even worse. Anyways, no, this determination is one of the most ridiculous in our country's history, perhaps even world history.

A lot of our current problems can probably be traced back to that original descision that made Corporations people.

[QUOTE="CaptainAhab13"]Well, according to Dartmouth College vs. Woodward... :?theone86

That's ridiculous enough, but saying spending is equivalent to political speech is even worse. Anyways, no, this determination is one of the most ridiculous in our country's history, perhaps even world history.

Merely pointing out history. I agree, this was a terrible decision.

Twisting and bending of words again, are we? It's getting a bit ridiculous when you have to add a law that says a corporation isn't people. What's next? Pizza being a vegetable? ...oh, wait. :roll:

Yes they are guys stop being so ignorant. This happens all the time in the 60's black people weren't people, in the 40's japs weren't people, nowadays some people argue gays aren't people. We as a society need to stop the hate and embrace all cultures, colors, and buildings.AL_GREEN

Yes they are guys stop being so ignorant. This happens all the time in the 60's black people weren't people, in the 40's japs weren't people, nowadays some people argue gays aren't people. We as a society need to stop the hate and embrace all cultures, colors, and buildings.

AL_GREEN

lol

Actually when you are sued or in court, the court views you as a coporation. If you notice any bills you get in the mail, cell phone, utility bills will always have your name in all caps.

Actually when you are sued or in court, the court views you as a coporation. If you notice any bills you get in the mail, cell phone, utility bills will always have your name in all caps.

HipHopBeats

While corporations are obviously not animate, it becomes tough to draw the exact line when it comes down to the two main reasons that they exist:

1. To subdivide and transfer ownership among many investors as to be able to more easily raise capital, and by extension

2. To allow the owners to have limited liability.

The second is more important in a practical sense. Anyone can theoretically print up stock certificates and sell them to investors. But you'll be hard pressed to find any investor willing to personally take on the debts that might be incurred in bankruptcy, or any contingent legal liability (it can be potentially far more than what they invested, and they would never know it).

Which is what begs the question. If a corporation goes bankrupt or gets sued, is it to be treated as a person or an entity? And how does that spread to other issues of person vs. object/entity? If a corporation is not a person, and yet no living person has legal or total financial liability, it tends to get very tricky.

Mitt Romney: "Corporation are people".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EltQAd8BGk8&feature=related

Yes they are guys stop being so ignorant. This happens all the time in the 60's black people weren't people, in the 40's japs weren't people, nowadays some people argue gays aren't people. We as a society need to stop the hate and embrace all cultures, colors, and buildings.AL_GREEN

*Insert "not sure if serious" Joker picture here*