4 ms·

We've already decided corporations can have political beliefs (Citizens United) and religious beliefs (Hobby Lobby); I say it's high time we also decide they ca

We've already decided corporations can have political beliefs (Citizens United) and religious beliefs (Hobby Lobby); I say it's high time we also decide they can also be declared criminal, and be subject to more than just fines.

joosters 12y ago
What? Like put them behind bars?
- bitJericho 12y ago
  The CEO and all the board of directors? I think things would shape up pretty quickly.
  - joosters 12y ago
    Ah, but that's dealing with individuals and not the corporation. But I also don't understand the lack of criminal convictions. The article mentions damning internal documents that show individuals within the bank knowingly breaking the rules. Why aren't these people being charged? They shouldn't be protected simply because they were working for a large corporation.
- TeMPOraL 12y ago
  An equivalent of jail time could be government ordering all company's offices to cease operation immediately and remain closed for few weeks.
  - Loughla 12y ago
    Because if zero tolerance policies taught us anything it's that across the board punishment, even for people who have little to no control over the action, is a great idea?
    - rprospero 12y ago
      That's pretty much the status quo for employment. When Enron went under, we didn't say "Well, the janitors didn't have anything to do with it, so they keep getting paid." If you work for a company and some at the top does something stupid, you're going to get punished for it, ever though you had nothing to do with it. Honestly, it almost forms a neat free market solution to corruption. A savy insurance firm should start offering Employer Corruption plans that would pay out if you lost your job due to a conviction of the company. Shadier firms would have higher insurance rates and thus would have a harder time finding employees. If my house catches fire and I don't have insurance, I don't get a new house, even though if I didn't start the fire. If my company goes under and I don't have insurance, I don't get paid, even if I'm not the person who wrecked the company.
rtpg 12y ago
Slightly off-topic but the SC did not rule on corporations being capable of religious exercise in Hobby Lobby, it just ruled on what the law says (RFRA talks about corporations being allowed to get religious exemptions). There is nothing unconstitutional about the law, but the "religious exercise" did not spawn from the constitution, and the repeal of the law would make those religious beliefs disappear
rayiner 12y ago
Corporations can have criminal convictions. It's just rarely invoked, because it's effectively a death sentence. The criminal conviction of Arthur Andersen (later overturned) destroyed a $10 billion/year accounting firm, the vast majority of which had absolutely nothing to do with the conduct that led to the conviction. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Andersen http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Andersen
- pbhjpbhj 12y ago
  Isn't it a good thing to kill of banks that apparently knowingly fund terrorism?

joosters 12y ago

What? Like put them behind bars?

bitJericho 12y ago
The CEO and all the board of directors? I think things would shape up pretty quickly.
- joosters 12y ago
  Ah, but that's dealing with individuals and not the corporation. But I also don't understand the lack of criminal convictions. The article mentions damning internal documents that show individuals within the bank knowingly breaking the rules. Why aren't these people being charged? They shouldn't be protected simply because they were working for a large corporation.
TeMPOraL 12y ago
An equivalent of jail time could be government ordering all company's offices to cease operation immediately and remain closed for few weeks.
- Loughla 12y ago
  Because if zero tolerance policies taught us anything it's that across the board punishment, even for people who have little to no control over the action, is a great idea?
  - rprospero 12y ago
    That's pretty much the status quo for employment. When Enron went under, we didn't say "Well, the janitors didn't have anything to do with it, so they keep getting paid." If you work for a company and some at the top does something stupid, you're going to get punished for it, ever though you had nothing to do with it. Honestly, it almost forms a neat free market solution to corruption. A savy insurance firm should start offering Employer Corruption plans that would pay out if you lost your job due to a conviction of the company. Shadier firms would have higher insurance rates and thus would have a harder time finding employees. If my house catches fire and I don't have insurance, I don't get a new house, even though if I didn't start the fire. If my company goes under and I don't have insurance, I don't get paid, even if I'm not the person who wrecked the company.

rtpg 12y ago

Slightly off-topic but the SC did not rule on corporations being capable of religious exercise in Hobby Lobby, it just ruled on what the law says (RFRA talks about corporations being allowed to get religious exemptions). There is nothing unconstitutional about the law, but the "religious exercise" did not spawn from the constitution, and the repeal of the law would make those religious beliefs disappear

rayiner 12y ago

Corporations can have criminal convictions. It's just rarely invoked, because it's effectively a death sentence. The criminal conviction of Arthur Andersen (later overturned) destroyed a $10 billion/year accounting firm, the vast majority of which had absolutely nothing to do with the conduct that led to the conviction. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Andersen http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Andersen

pbhjpbhj 12y ago
Isn't it a good thing to kill of banks that apparently knowingly fund terrorism?