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I think it's important to be clear, the "rights" of corporations are the rights of their owners/shareholders. It's jaded, but it's best to assume that a "corpo

I think it's important to be clear, the "rights" of corporations are the rights of their owners/shareholders. It's jaded, but it's best to assume that a "corporation's best interest" equates to what makes them the most money; nothing more, nothing less. And of course, it's to make more money for ownership that already has money. I don't think that the point of corporate vs public best interest is "unconditional", but we skew way too far to the corporate side than is good for our society

Retric 6y ago
As members of the public the interests of the owners are already being counted when you look at the ‘public interest’. In effect, your suggesting they be double counted as both the owners and members of the public.
- polygotdomain 6y ago
  You're completely right, but I'm not really suggesting it; they are being "double counted". That being said, an individual's share of the "public interest" is incredibly miniscule, and there's relatively few owners, so it's not like it's equal on both sides. In fact, that's ultimately the problem; that we constantly bend due to "corporate interests" that are subject to the whims of an incredibly small fraction of society that is, in general, massively disconnected from the norms of society. Add on to that, generally having a large amount of money and privilege means that most of the things that are in the "public interest" aren't really of significant concern to you because you can simply buy your way into a completely different system (see public vs private education)
  - Retric 6y ago
    Where double counting is most noticeable is economic arguments. Framing the debate around what maximizes GDP lets the RIAA for example make arguments like “good for the economy and good for musicians.”
nitrogen 6y ago
I think it's important to be clear, the "rights" of corporations are the rights of their owners/shareholders. To some extent, an organization is a host for emergent behavior. An organization (like an ant colony) may behave in ways that are counter to the best interests of, and incomprehensible by, any given isolated individual in that organization.
elcritch 6y ago
I'd nitpick and say a corporations best self-interest is achieving what it's charter states as its purpose. Or it should be. If that's purely making money, fine. Though often pursuing financial gains first and foremost in the long term loses on actual value produced and therefore ultimately lowers it's lifelong monetary value too. E.g. SpaceX looks to be a very valuable company, but it's primary goal is to make it to the moon.

Retric 6y ago

As members of the public the interests of the owners are already being counted when you look at the ‘public interest’. In effect, your suggesting they be double counted as both the owners and members of the public.

polygotdomain 6y ago
You're completely right, but I'm not really suggesting it; they are being "double counted". That being said, an individual's share of the "public interest" is incredibly miniscule, and there's relatively few owners, so it's not like it's equal on both sides. In fact, that's ultimately the problem; that we constantly bend due to "corporate interests" that are subject to the whims of an incredibly small fraction of society that is, in general, massively disconnected from the norms of society. Add on to that, generally having a large amount of money and privilege means that most of the things that are in the "public interest" aren't really of significant concern to you because you can simply buy your way into a completely different system (see public vs private education)
- Retric 6y ago
  Where double counting is most noticeable is economic arguments. Framing the debate around what maximizes GDP lets the RIAA for example make arguments like “good for the economy and good for musicians.”

nitrogen 6y ago

I think it's important to be clear, the "rights" of corporations are the rights of their owners/shareholders. To some extent, an organization is a host for emergent behavior. An organization (like an ant colony) may behave in ways that are counter to the best interests of, and incomprehensible by, any given isolated individual in that organization.

elcritch 6y ago

I'd nitpick and say a corporations best self-interest is achieving what it's charter states as its purpose. Or it should be. If that's purely making money, fine. Though often pursuing financial gains first and foremost in the long term loses on actual value produced and therefore ultimately lowers it's lifelong monetary value too. E.g. SpaceX looks to be a very valuable company, but it's primary goal is to make it to the moon.