WHAT IS A CORPORATION?

[RuGlu6]

Originally Posted by Reef Pilot

RuGlu6, just curious, what do you do for a living?

You hit the nail right on the head, friend !
Humans are the only creatures that have to pay for living on this planet.
That is why most of us are just slaves.

[jorjef]

Originally Posted by RuGlu6

That is why most of us are just slaves.

Why be a slave? Strip done to nothing, head out the front door and make your way to the woods to live with the animals. Thats gotta be better option.

[kien]

That's actually a very good point about having to pay to live on earth. I suppose that's the price for becoming civilized. I'm not very good with a bow or a club so I'll stick with my slave masters.

Also, corporations run the internet that we are all using to spread the word about our corporate oppressors.

[Reef Pilot]

Originally Posted by RuGlu6

You hit the nail right on the head, friend !
Humans are the only creatures that have to pay for living on this planet.
That is why most of us are just slaves.

You didn't answer my question, which is what do YOU do for a living? Just trying to understand you better, and where you are coming from...

Not sure what your definition of slaves is. But might possibly mean that humans, and all life are slaves to something. Even bacteria are dependent on something to live and reproduce, or they die...

Difference with humans is that they learned that working together can be more productive and safe, and make for a better life.

[Reef_Geek]

Originally Posted by RuGlu6

You hit the nail right on the head, friend !
Humans are the only creatures that have to pay for living on this planet.
That is why most of us are just slaves.

I'm thinking it's about time that my dog and fish start to pull their weight around this joint... freaking freeloaders...

[SanguinesDream]

Originally Posted by Reef_Geek

I'm thinking it's about time that my dog and fish start to pull their weight around this joint... freaking freeloaders...

Snerk.

[windcoast reefs]

[reefermadness]

I'm feeling this dude... I got your back haha.

There is a good documentary called "The Corporation". In the film they make the case that If a corporation was a human being, that human being would be the dictionary definition of a psychopath. The film makes a lot of good points but is kinda long and dragged out. In the end it clearly shows that the system is heavily flawed (corps have obviously done a lot to further mankind but there are always down sides). What is the solution? Corporate money in politics is not right IMO. In the states its unlimited.....the corporations and special interest groups practically run the government.

One cool alternative to a corporation is a co-op. There are worker co-ops, were the workers share ownership and member co-ops. MEC is an awesome example of a member co-op. Very cool to read about..

http://www.mec.ca/AST/ContentPrimary.../MECShares.jsp

http://www.mec.ca/AST/ContentPrimary...p/CoOpFaqs.jsp

Not to imply that is a complete solution. I do think the way the system today is is messed up though....think about how big corporations have got in the last 50 years. Everyone shops at the name brand corporation.

Scary fact: The 6 Walton (Walmart) family members are now worth 93 billion. They are richer than the bottom 30% (108 million) of Americans.

[Reef Pilot]

Originally Posted by reefermadness

One cool alternative to a corporation is a co-op. There are worker co-ops, were the workers share ownership and member co-ops. MEC is an awesome example of a member co-op. Very cool to read about..

Co-ops (incl credit unions) are just another type of corporation. Here is how our CRA looks at it.
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/bsnss/tp...s/thr-eng.html

They are given certain benefits, like tax breaks, for being non-profit. I actually belong to one, and buy almost all my fuel from them.

But the downside is that usually they lack the expertise, sophistication and motivation to compete with their for profit cousins. And they don't contribute much (in taxes) to pay for our education, health care, social services etc, like individuals and for profit corporations do.

The old Soviet Union essentially operated like a bunch of giant cooperatives, except their "members" didn't always have a lot of say in how they were operated.

[reefermadness]

Originally Posted by Reef Pilot

Co-ops (incl credit unions) are just another type of corporation. Here is how our CRA looks at it.
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/bsnss/tp...s/thr-eng.html

They are given certain benefits, like tax breaks, for being non-profit. I actually belong to one, and buy almost all my fuel from them.

But the downside is that usually they lack the expertise, sophistication and motivation to compete with their for profit cousins. And they don't contribute much (in taxes) to pay for our education, health care, social services etc, like individuals and for profit corporations do.

The old Soviet Union essentially operated like a bunch of giant cooperatives, except their "members" didn't always have a lot of say in how they were operated.

I never said a society filled with co-ops is the answer....although it may be part of one. Stiffer regulation, corporate money out of politics, that would help.

Look Im not down playing the important role corporation have had in the past and present but they are larger than ever and more powerful than ever. They only have one purpose and that is to make money at all costs. If the idea of breaking the law and getting caught is less costly (in dollar terms) they do it.

And as far as paying taxes.....many of the largest US business such as GE paid no corporate income taxes last year.