[lesuorac]

Originally governments didn't just give out corperations whilly-nilly so if you weren't doing something that benefited the public you just didn't get one.

Which really wasn't a big deal since you could always do business as yourself although you (and not the corporation) also got liability then.

[robertlagrant]

I don't see why this matters. Whether they "give out corporations" or they regulate corporations, they can still choose to throw you in jail because they have power. Corporations should obey the law, but they should chase shareholder value.

That doesn't mean short-termism at all costs, which is what some people hear when that is said, but it means, say, if you're Disney don't release a string of movies that all lose incredible amounts of money. Or if you do, then senior management needs changing pronto.

[thinkerswell]

Ah so the government got to pick winners and losers