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Cultural constructs (our "management systems") and technology allowed humanity, over eons, to overcome natural limits and thrive in every ecosystem on the planet.
We even went "to the moon, Alice" to steal a phrase from Ralph the Honeymooner.
Now, a modern and very effective management system, the corporation, along with industrial technology are overwhelming nature.
The honeymoon is over...
Human activities--pollution due to energy production and transportation, worldwide development to a "western standard", over-fishing of ocean nurseries, deforestation, unsustainable agricultural--are destroying the Earth's ability to sustain human life.
Our unlimited population growth, abetted by health technology, greatly accelerates damage, even as we live longer.
Corporations are a rather recent addition to human societies. They are a fantastic means to focus efforts of human beings and technology.
Corporations are beholden to their shareholders and therefore will not change their environmentally unsound practices eagerly if shareholder profits are put at risk.
Yet, consumers, along with shareholders, will shortly no longer have an environment which will support their lives!
Can we count on shareholders to force corporations to save themselves and the very market upon which they depend?
Corporations, as they developed, became persons under the law. They are without a conscience and/or moral compass of any sort, they answer to stockholders and market forces, and laws but only when they can't get away without, and have an unlimited lifetime! Quite an unnatural "person".
Being persons before the law has several consequences. They can be taxed. They can sue and be sued. They can cloak their shareholders from suits against the corporation. They also can finance election campaigns and lobbyists, thanks to having free speech rights.
Corporate activities and influence are the biggest impediments to reversing activities that are accelerating biosphere destruction.
The car companies, to name a current and especially egregious example, blocked inproving car mileage (CAFE Standards) for 20 plus years, and now claim they need government money to re-tool their outdated and unprofitable plant and equipment!
Corporations can no longer be persons under the law.
This change of definition gives humanity a slim chance to survive the next 100 years.
