A good frame, a good talking point is sometimes described as a "Thought-Virus." That's where we get the term "Viral Video" from.
A virulent virus can take on a life of its own, in spite of our best efforts to stop them. They keep going, and going ...
OK, so exactly how does a real-world virus operate?
Are Viruses Alive?
by George Rice, Montana State University
"Viruses straddle the definition of life. They lie somewhere between supra molecular complexes and very simple biological entities. Viruses contain some of the structures and exhibit some of the activities that are common to organic life, but they are missing many of the others. In general, viruses are entirely composed of a single strand of genetic information encased within a protein capsule. Viruses lack most of the internal structure and machinery which characterize 'life', including the biosynthetic machinery that is necessary for reproduction. In order for a virus to replicate it must infect a suitable host cell".
-- From The Bacteriophage T4 Virus
[...]
So in brief, virus are half-alive and half-dead.
Viruses are tiny machines that take over and commandeer other living things.
[Image source: “Origin of Life and Evolution” -- mukto-mona.net]
Synthetic polio another reminder of science's potential
Daily Herald -- Aug 04, 2002
[...] Viruses are not living entities; they rather are quasi-parasites that must commandeer the genetic machinery of truly living cells to make more copies of themselves; they cannot do it on their own. But we must remember also that the complete genetic formula of the simplest known living organism is also known, that in principle it too could be synthesized [...]
[Image source: Viruses -- dbscience4.wikispaces]
Viruses act like parasites. Without other living things they cease to have impact, effectively without other living things they cease to Exist.
OK so here's my talking-point thesis for today's pointless diatribe:
"Corporations Are NOT Persons -- Corporations are much more like Viruses."
Now go re-read what you just read -- using this simple formula:
Corporations = Viruses
[Image source: A virus is a piece of software -- macforensicslab.com]
Why do Viruses exist? Because they have found a flaw in the system that they can use to carry out their Lifelike activities from.
Why do Corporations exist? Because they have found a flaw in the system that they can use to carry out their Profit-maximizing activities from.
Four Advantages of a Corporation over Other Organizational Forms
by John Garger, brighthub.com -- Aug 20, 2010
Corporation
A corporation (from Latin "corpus", literally "body") is considered to be a person who is completely separate from its owners. Owners are known as shareholders because they own only a share or part of the organization. Like a person, corporations may own property and assets, take on debt to finance operations, and sell shares to raise money. The corporation enjoys four major advantages that, when combined, make this type of organization attractive for large ventures.
Limited Liability
Owner liability is limited to the loss of the value of shares held. Owner's entire wealth is not in jeopardy if the corporation goes bankrupt or ceases operation. [...]
Permanency
When owners die, shares of the corporation can be willed to family members or other entities just like any other asset. A corporation can theoretically live forever as long as it remains profitable.
Transferability of Ownership
Selling ownership of a corporation is simply a matter of selling shares to a buyer willing to pay the price of the shares. [...]
Access to Capital
The permanent nature of corporations makes capital easier to acquire as lenders do not have to worry about the death of its owners. Corporations are far more flexible in their ability to take on debt.
So what's the flaw(s) Corporate-Viruses are exploiting?
Here's a Hint: Who gets the Pains? Who gets the Gains?
Ultimately the system empowers "the owners" to easily get the fruits of our labors ... (us, the "non-owners" -- aka. the hosts).
[Image source: Privatize Gains/Socialize losses -- investors411.com]
Just because a Corporation has its "marching orders" -- there is no guarantee those orders will be just, equitable, or humane ... (you know share the values of actual persons).
That's because Corporations are mechanically constructed to act more like Viruses, than they are designed to act like actual people.
[Image source: Mr. Carl's E-Class]
People are alive for a short while. People try to live fulfilling do-no-harm lives. People try to avoid sickness, and remain productive ... (you know, most people want to live lives that 'make a difference').
People try to avoid Viruses -- because we know they can zap the life out of us, once we get caught in their clutches.
Corporations? Well they exist to spread their competitive influence -- just like a Virus!
Viruses and Virions
Because viruses do not exhibit all the seven characteristics of life when unattached to a host cell, it is debatable whether or not they are truly living entities. However, they may have a severe impact on the health of the cells they get into, by degrading the cells' ability to thrive. This is known as infection.
[...]
Influenza
Influenza virus is probably the best known and most common virus among the human population. It mutates at an alarming rate and new strains appear on an annual basis.
[...]
Viruses can infect most types of living cells, even bacteria. Such a virus is known as a bacteriophage and can be used to control bacterial infections. These viruses have a particularly unusual shape, not unlike a rocket or a stretched Apollo Lunar landing vehicle! Viruses can also enter a dormant state by crystallizing to be stored like minerals, where they can remain unchanged for prolonged periods. When moistened and provided with a favorable environment, they can revive for renewed activity. They are therefore highly resilient and difficult to destroy.
[Image source: Diagram of the influenza virus -- drugdevelopment-technology.com]
Here are the 7 things a Virus can only do, ONLY after it has taken over the "living resources" of its current host:
What are the 7 characteristics of life?
1. Cells - All living thinks have cells; cells are the building blocks of life.
2. Metabolism - All living things eat, drink, breathe and excrete.
3. Growth - All living thinks take in material from the environment to enlarge.
4. Reproduction - All living things are able to produce a copy of themselves.
5. Irritability - All living things are able to react to a change in their environment.
6. Adaptation - All living things are able to compete with each other for food and space to survive.
7. Movement - All living things are able to move.
[Image source: BiologÃa y Ciencias de la Tierra]
This question remains to be answered, if my little thought-experiment is destined to "go viral" as they say:
Who (or what) are the Hosts that the Corporate-DNA "Marching Orders" are exploiting, in order to carry out their Lifelike, often soul-crushing, activities?
Do Corporations feast on Society? ... by promoting mindless consumption.
Do Corporations turn their employees into clever ever-rationalizing zombies? ... who will work against their own best interests, if need be.
Do Corporations raid other Corporations, to mechanically convert their resources into their own "personal" wealth? (which begs the question, Do Corporations even know when they have become Rich?)
Do Corporate "Boards of Directors" ever stop to consider the long-term damage they do, to their own progeny? When they are surveying the terrain for their next take-over targets?
Neither does the parasitic DNA-imperative of a Virus, either. They just do, what they DO ...
Corporations Are Not Persons
by Ralph Nader and Carl J. Mayer, NYTimes.com -- Apr 09, 1988
[...]
The corporate drive for constitutional parity with real humans comes at a time when legislatures are awarding these artificial persons superhuman privileges. Besides perpetual life, corporations enjoy limited liability for industrial accidents such as nuclear power disasters, and the use of voluntary bankruptcy and other disappearing acts to dodge financial obligations while remaining in business.
The legal system is thus creating unaccountable Frankensteins that have human powers but are nonetheless constitutionally shielded from much actual and potential law enforcement as well as from accountability to real persons such as workers, consumers and taxpayers.
[...]
As I said before:
Corporations exist because they have found a flaw in the system that they can use to carry out their Profit-maximizing activities from.
SOOO, what happens to a Virus when it
runs out of host resources to exploit?
It goes dormant.
What happens to Corporations when they run out of host resources to exploit?
That is the question, that all of humanity is helpless waiting to find out the answer to ... what happens then?
"Unaccountable Frankensteins" may one day inherit an over-consumed earth ... will they on that day stop to rest? Stop to survey all they havoc they've caused?
Or would they instead, eye the mountains of trash they've left in their wake, wondering $$$ ?
Would they gaze into the sky as the next territory, they've yet to claim as their own?
[Image source: A few good viruses -- cosmosmagazine.com]
Well, I dare to once again ask you, What would a Virus DO?
So in summary, here are my take-away points:
Corporations <> People
Corporations = Viruses
QED.
[Image source: Industrial Robots And Automation -- machine-project.com]
Psst. "Don't get sick." ... I hear there's something going around, that they're calling "Death, warmed over" ...
Ewwwh! No Thanks. Be well, while you still can.
Because that's what us Human Persons DO. In a word: Survive.
PS. "Flaws" can be corrected. Because that's what Human ingenuity does ...
We fix stuff ... whenever, wherever we can.