Why are corporations considered "people"?

Question

Why does a corporation have the same rights as I do? If this is true, why haven't many corporations been dissolved or abolished when their products kill people? If I were to commit an act such as this, I'd be thrown in prison or executed.

Answer 1

This was the result of a very famous Supreme court decision in 1886, "Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad Company".

It has not been struck down, or reversed, most likely, bc of corporate influence on govt.

Answer 2

A corporation acts as a result of the will of its directors. Therefore it has a will and in a "legal fiction" is considered a person. When a company acts in such a way that may negatively affect others, the company has a responsibility and therefore may be subject to fines and the payment of indemnifications to the affected people. Depending on the level of the damage and the diligence (negligence), and good or bad faith in which its directors acted and decided, they may also be subject not only to the payment of indemnifications and fines, but also to imprisonment. As well depending on the type and level of damage or violation of the law, the company m,ay be ordered temporary of permanent shut down.

So there you go, they do have a responsibility and you may sue not only the companies but their directors.

Answer 3

The word "corp" means body, and corporation means assumption of a body or incarnation. Legally, a corporation is considered a "group of people who have a charter granting it perpetual life invested with many legal powers given to individuals" (Websters New World Dictionary) A corporation is legally an individual and there's safety in numbers So if your need to cover your butt, incorporate!

Answer 4

not really considered people, but they do have some of the same rights. There are different rulings that dictate what happen to corporations in the justice system

Answer 5

Because a corporation is owned by many different shareholders (people) with usually limited liability to protect people who do no wrongdoing.

Answer 6

So our insatiable money-hungry governement can collect income taxes twice on the same income - from the corporation, and again from the shareholders.

Answer 7

they are not considered people

"legal entities" I think

and yeah, you are right, often (with exceptions for Enron and that sort of thing, if they go too far, they still find somebody to put in jail) corporations can pollute, steal, lie, etc, then when they go to place blame, it lands on the corporation and nobody takes the blame. Especially if they donated enough money to politicians campaign funds who happen to win elections.

They set up that LTD (limited liability, in England, the Brittish East India COmpany) so when the ship sank they were not responsible to the sailors families for their deaths anymore cuz that was expensive sometimes.

Why don't the Brits USE them spices anyway?

They took over India for spices cuz of bland food, right?

Maybe they never figured out how to cook with em.

Answer 8

You have, in my opinion. presented a great argument. And You are right, in my opinion. I think it's time to bring them down to earth. Though the concept of corporation may be a little difficult to grasp for some of us who are being victimized by this invisible entity, there are those who can see it quite clearly for what it is, by what it does. Good Work!

Answer 9

You answered your own question. Corporations are considered "people" to protect the interests of the rich executives and majority shareholders.
It is the foundation of our corrupt economical structure.

One nation, under the almighty dollar... with liberty and justice for none.

Answer 10

That "protection" from prosecution is the primary reason for forming a corporation.