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Here's a slashdot interview with Michael Badnarik.
I think you're all likely to find something you can agree with. Perhaps multiple things.
I think you're all likely to find something you can agree with. Perhaps multiple things.
First, let's look at the nature of corporations. They come into existence with the grant of a government charter. They sell stock under the auspices and pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. In court, they are treated as "persons" with "rights" -- and for purposes of liability, their stockholders are held harmless beyond the value of their stock itself.
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We need to restore justice to the system. Stockholders are owners, and should be liable for the consequences of that ownership like any other owners. I have no doubt that the market will come up with "portfolio insurance" to protect the stockholders from ruinous claims, but that in itself will provide a market check on unrestrained, unaccountable growth -- companies which act irresponsibly will find that their stockholders can't buy, or have to pay unreasonably high, insurance premiums, and therefore aren't interested in having the stock.
That's straight socio-anarchism, a la Noam Chomsky. My impression is that this attitude is held by maybe 2% of LP members, around 98% of Greens, and no Republicans. Very interesting indeed.
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Yeah, I figured that one would get your attention.
My impression is that this attitude is held by maybe 2% of LP members
I think you underestimate the extent to which libertarians understand the mistake of granting special privilege to corporations.
Corporations currently allow people to disclaim responsibility for the actions taken on their behalf, which promotes a "don't tell me about that" attitude and a lack of personal responsibility. Libertarians are strongly in favor of personal responsibility.
I figure the portion of libertarians who agree with those quotes is much higher than 2%, and the rest can be convinced by pointing out that government shouldn't allow people to shirk their responsibilities just because they've filled out some paperwork and given the government some money.
Corporations don't make the initiation of force or fraud acceptable today any more than indulgences did in the 16th century. Neither the church or the state can be counted on to arbitrate justice when they've been paid off ahead of time. Time then to stop paying the state to look the other way for corporations, just as the church eventually stopped selling indulgences.
Looking forward to the next reformation.
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I indeed hope that I am seriously underestimating liberatians on the corporate privilege issue. It is obvious from reading Badnarik's column that I have underestimated them on this issue already.
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