A question about libertarianism and corporate control

[exomniac]

I've been rummaging through the internet looking for critics of libertarianism, and I've come across a common theme. Almost everyone points out the lack of control over corporations. Some go as far saying that leaving big business unchecked could turn us all into slaves. Entire states owned by corporations. Small businesses being wiped out by big chains. As far as I understand, the population has control over corporations, because we generally provide the business that corporations get. So, lets say General Electric attempts to purchase 1/3 of the land in North Dakota, with plans to turn it all into a nuclear weapons testing area. We stop buying GE, we stop watching NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, and boycott sponsors of programming on those channels, right? Is that enough? Just an example. I wanted clarification, because like I said, as far as I know, this is how corporations are controlled in an absolutely free society.

 

[Josh_LA]

I've been rummaging through the internet looking for critics of libertarianism, and I've come across a common theme. Almost everyone points out the lack of control over corporations. Some go as far saying that leaving big business unchecked could turn us all into slaves. Entire states owned by corporations. Small businesses being wiped out by big chains. As far as I understand, the population has control over corporations, because we generally provide the business that corporations get. So, lets say General Electric attempts to purchase 1/3 of the land in North Dakota, with plans to turn it all into a nuclear weapons testing area. We stop buying GE, we stop watching NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, and boycott sponsors of programming on those channels, right? Is that enough? Just an example. I wanted clarification, because like I said, as far as I know, this is how corporations are controlled in an absolutely free society.

you are right about

* it's still your choice

but you're wrong about
* we can just protest it out

but one thing is true
* it aint the corporations fault
* it's not bad to be a slave to corporations, if you understand the meaning behind it. it's no more bad to be a slave to a government that bans murder and rape.

 

[tmosley]

Corporations are pets of the state. They wouldn't exist without government intervention (ie laws stating that shareholders are not liable for the actions of the corporation they own).

You might be able to approximate a corporation by purchasing insurance which will shield the shareholders from civil prosecution (by paying for their defense, and paying the settlement if they lose), but it's wouldn't be the absolute defense it is now.

It's doubtful that companies would manage to grow so large without the artificial protection from prosecution, both civil and criminal.

 

[Original_Intent]

Also many corporations that are huge buy congressman to help protect them from competition. Government regulation of business provides barriers to entry which inhibits people from being entrepreneurs and is protectionist of existing corporations that make the campaign contributions.

 

[Josh_LA]

Also many corporations that are huge buy congressman to help protect them from competition. Government regulation of business provides barriers to entry which inhibits people from being entrepreneurs and is protectionist of existing corporations that make the campaign contributions.

that's like saying people with money buy out the government to protect them from being murdered or robbed, what else do you expect rich people to do?

 

[krazy kaju]

I've been rummaging through the internet looking for critics of libertarianism, and I've come across a common theme.

Besides idiocy?

Small businesses being wiped out by big chains.

This is not the case. Small businesses are more likely to be wiped out by Sarbanes-Oxley, high income taxes, and high regulatory costs than anything else. Look at relatively free markets like Hong Kong and Singapore. Small businesses abound in these areas, since regulatory costs are kept at a minimum, allowing small businesses to be competitive against larger ones.

As far as I understand, the population has control over corporations, because we generally provide the business that corporations get.

Yup.

So, lets say General Electric attempts to purchase 1/3 of the land in North Dakota, with plans to turn it all into a nuclear weapons testing area. We stop buying GE, we stop watching NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, and boycott sponsors of programming on those channels, right? Is that enough? Just an example. I wanted clarification, because like I said, as far as I know, this is how corporations are controlled in an absolutely free society.

If GE nuked the shit out of Dakota and damaged other peoples' property, than those people have every right to sue GE for damaging their property and putting their lives needlessly in danger.

 

[danberkeley]

... Almost everyone points out the lack of control over corporations. Some go as far saying that leaving big business unchecked could turn us all into slaves. Entire states owned by corporations.

As opposed to what we have now?

So, lets say General Electric attempts to purchase 1/3 of the land in North Dakota, with plans to turn it all into a nuclear weapons testing area...

As opposed to the government buying Neveda and testing nuclear weapons there?

 

[hugolp]

I've been rummaging through the internet looking for critics of libertarianism, and I've come across a common theme. Almost everyone points out the lack of control over corporations. Some go as far saying that leaving big business unchecked could turn us all into slaves. Entire states owned by corporations. Small businesses being wiped out by big chains. As far as I understand, the population has control over corporations, because we generally provide the business that corporations get. So, lets say General Electric attempts to purchase 1/3 of the land in North Dakota, with plans to turn it all into a nuclear weapons testing area. We stop buying GE, we stop watching NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, and boycott sponsors of programming on those channels, right? Is that enough? Just an example. I wanted clarification, because like I said, as far as I know, this is how corporations are controlled in an absolutely free society.

Other people have given you allredy good and extended answers. The truth is it all comes down to the fact that a lot of people really believe that goverment protects them, and dont realize that goverment is the biggest corporation and the only one with enough power to fuck them.

Hugo

 

[Josh_LA]

Other people have given you allredy good and extended answers. The truth is it all comes down to the fact that a lot of people really believe that goverment protects them, and dont realize that goverment is the biggest corporation and the only one with enough power to fuck them.

Hugo

or if people believe that slavery, dominance and respect to authority is necessarily a bad thing.