[VT_Drew]

It isn't realistic with stocks. Are you really going to go get 100% consent from every single person that has stock in company? Even the people that only hold 100 shares (or 1 share for that matter)? You would never be able take publicly traded company and make it private this way.

[Retric]

I don't think that's really a bad thing. If it's failing then the stock holders get nothing and assets get put on the market. If some piece is worth more then you can just sell that off. But, if company is public and profitable then what's the upside for society?

[djrogers]

If a company is failing or doing poorly in the stock market, sometimes a private buyout allows them to back off the quarter-to-quarter demands or to incur debt needed for expansion/R&D/acquisition etc. this freedom can enable a company to turn around, grow, etc - that's better for society than having it flounder for a few more years while bleeding...: