[andruby]

But that would also introduce a perverse incentive by giving the government a way to take over companies.

(And yes I do believe that governments and/or individuals with power would abuse this for personal gain)

[aoeusnth1]

They already have the ability to sue for cash. How is stock materially different?

[andruby]

Stock gives control over a company. I would say that is materially different.

ie: suing Apple for cash won't give them the ability to install backdoors, taking over control of Apple would. (This is probably unlikely to happen with Apple, but maybe it could with Comcast, AT&T or even Intel)