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Corporations are just citizens cooperating in a venture. That shouldn't result in them losing rights simply because they are incorporated. The law should be ap

Corporations are just citizens cooperating in a venture. That shouldn't result in them losing rights simply because they are incorporated. The law should be applied to relevant details of a situation, not something arbitrary like incorporation unless the issue is specific to the details of incorporation.

lmm 5y ago
> Corporations are just citizens cooperating in a venture. No they're not. They come with an extraordinary privilege of limited liability, which is meant to be paired with a corresponding responsibility to create a social benefit.
- Nevermark 5y ago
  You are right. On a different tack, if governments legislate some kinds of moderation for corporations, then the corporations would become an extension of the government and that would become government censorship in practice. Not good. If governments legislate no moderation for corporations, then corporations would lose the ability to encourage different kinds of communication with moderation. I don't see either case as healthy for freedom, capitalism, or individuals in the end. Legislating that moderation rules must be made public, and moderation actions logged so the public could review a corporations compliance with its own chosen rules, seems reasonable to me. It would avoid deceptive moderation, which to me is a problem similar to other kinds of fraud that are outlawed.
dragonwriter 5y ago
> Corporations are just citizens cooperating in a venture. No, that's partnerships or unincorporated associations (well, “people”, not necessarily “citizens”). Corporations are distinct legal entities created by the power of the state and im ued with state-issued charters whose investors are granted the immense legal privilege of limited liability. > That shouldn't result in them losing rights simply because they are incorporated. The exercise of state power involved in incorporation and the privileges at public expense it grants should absolutely be tied to restrictions and conditions that ensure that a sufficient public benefit to warrant the cost is served and that the exercise of state power involved in the creation, existence, and operation of the corporation is consistent with the restrictions otherwise applicable to state power.

lmm 5y ago

> Corporations are just citizens cooperating in a venture. No they're not. They come with an extraordinary privilege of limited liability, which is meant to be paired with a corresponding responsibility to create a social benefit.

Nevermark 5y ago
You are right. On a different tack, if governments legislate some kinds of moderation for corporations, then the corporations would become an extension of the government and that would become government censorship in practice. Not good. If governments legislate no moderation for corporations, then corporations would lose the ability to encourage different kinds of communication with moderation. I don't see either case as healthy for freedom, capitalism, or individuals in the end. Legislating that moderation rules must be made public, and moderation actions logged so the public could review a corporations compliance with its own chosen rules, seems reasonable to me. It would avoid deceptive moderation, which to me is a problem similar to other kinds of fraud that are outlawed.

dragonwriter 5y ago

> Corporations are just citizens cooperating in a venture. No, that's partnerships or unincorporated associations (well, “people”, not necessarily “citizens”). Corporations are distinct legal entities created by the power of the state and im ued with state-issued charters whose investors are granted the immense legal privilege of limited liability. > That shouldn't result in them losing rights simply because they are incorporated. The exercise of state power involved in incorporation and the privileges at public expense it grants should absolutely be tied to restrictions and conditions that ensure that a sufficient public benefit to warrant the cost is served and that the exercise of state power involved in the creation, existence, and operation of the corporation is consistent with the restrictions otherwise applicable to state power.