If the American People Incorporated, would we be 'too big to fail'?

We, the people have no lobbyists in DC. If a citizen calls his/her Representative about an issue such as Health Care or Social Security, we rarely even get a response. But Big Corporation Lobbyists are rarely turned away.

There is no point in denying it, money talks in DC and the people have been outspent. And even when these powerful corporations fail, we get the bill because we are told they are too big to fail.

Why aren't the American People 'too big to fail'? Who will pay the bills for us? Shouldn't it be even more important to keep the American people afloat, those who pay the bills, who keep the country's engine running, than a single Corporation no matter how big it is?

It's nice to say we have rights, but do we, really? Corporations are far more powerful than the people. The government has a lot more respect for Corporations, no matter how badly they fail, than they do for the American people.

But what if the American People became a giant corporation? Would that make them 'too big to fail', also?

We need to get Congress working for the people again. Calling, faxing, emailing, signing petitions even visiting DC doesn't work because they seem to think we are dispensable, not important, more of an annoyance to them than anything else.

Maybe we've been doing it all wrong. Acting like we live in a democracy, thinking we are represented by those we elect. The evidence shows that our government is far more influenced by Corporations than by citizens.

If we can't beat them, why not join them? The U.S. Government is now trained to respond to lobbyists for Big Business rather than citizens, so if citizens were a huge Corporation, wouldn't they start thinking more about keeping us afloat, giving us bail-outs when we are failing, passing bills that would benefit our Corporation, etc?

This is a great idea but, in reality, we would just be playing their game by their rules....

There is no such thing as "too big to fail", anythIng can fail.

Good idea ! But we'd better not trade our shares on the Wall Street markets or Jaime Dimon will do a pump and dump on our corporation and --- errr.. maybe that's already happened.

Originally posted by Signals
This is a great idea

but, in reality, we would just be playing their game by their rules....

There is no such thing as "too big to fail", anythIng can fail.

That's what I'm getting at. If we want to get into the game, we have to play by the same rules.

Car companies and banking corporations were deemed "too big to fail", why not us?

There is an easy fix for this entire corporate mess. We should adhere to the original corporate charter system laid out for us.

In that charter, a corporation can only be granted a charter if they could prove that they can serve the public good. It's not all about profit.

Stick to that and you will see lobbyists drop off quicker than snot.......

reply to post by sheepslayer247


You have a good point. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way, anymore, and hasn't for a long time. It's time to become one of "them".

they're already corporated ... and it grandly failed ...

Originally posted by Expat888
they're already corporated ... and it grandly failed ...

I second that notion

reply to post by N3k9Ni


We did incorporate, for all intents and purposes, 1778. The problem today is that special interest groups, the super rich, and corrupt politicians have all come together and initiated a hostile takeover.

What we actually need is a public outcry for reform. A shareholder uprising, if you will. The folks in power are corrupt because of the lethargy and apathy of the people. If enough of us get fed up and voice it? The corrupt will heed the outrage and bow to public demand.

And then they'll begin finding wholly new and sorry ways to become corrupt all over again.

~Heff

Originally posted by Expat888
they're already corporated ... and it grandly failed ...

I don't understand what you're saying. Can you give us something a little more in-depth?

Originally posted by Hefficide
reply to post by N3k9Ni

 

We did incorporate, for all intents and purposes, 1778. The problem today is that special interest groups, the super rich, and corrupt politicians have all come together and initiated a hostile takeover.

What we actually need is a public outcry for reform. A shareholder uprising, if you will. The folks in power are corrupt because of the lethargy and apathy of the people. If enough of us get fed up and voice it? The corrupt will heed the outrage and bow to public demand.

And then they'll begin finding wholly new and sorry ways to become corrupt all over again.

~Heff

1871, not 1778

Originally posted by N3k9Ni

Originally posted by Expat888
they're already corporated ... and it grandly failed ...

I don't understand what you're saying. Can you give us something a little more in-depth?

An Act to Incorporate the District of Columbia, 1871

www.abodia.com...

reply to post by Hefficide


You're right. We did essentially incorporate in 1778, but I'm not speaking metaphorically. I'm suggesting an actual, chartered corporation that can send lobbyists to Congress to address those corrupt politicians that have thrown us overboard for special interests.

We no lnger hold a share in our government. We've seen how the OWS movement was dealt with. I understand what you're saying about enough people raising their voice, but let's face it, large crowds of people are scary and invoke fight or flight reactions. What we need is to work with more finesse and a finer point. Speak softly and carry a big stick. Send a few people into the castle to negotioate, not try to scale the walls.

reply to post by N3k9Ni


Interestingly and randomly enough... I've been researching my next thread all day today - one on the corrupt influence of lobbying.

Here's my thought. Why band together to participate in a flawed and corrupt practice when the real fix is to simply outlaw the practice itself?

Get rid of lobbying entirely. That's the answer.

~Heff

reply to post by Hefficide


That's a good point and I absolutely agree with you. One way or another, we need to level the field. Either the people adopt the strategies of the corporations or the corporations be limited in their ability to influence.

Unfortunately, I don't see lobbying being outlawed any time soon.

edit: btw, I hope you can get your thread on corrupt lobbying put together. I'd love to read it.