Corporations can act as friends or as enemies, depending on the situation.
Take for example : BP
Its method of deep see oil drilling reaped enormous profits for its shareholders, but ultimately proved not commensurate with the risks involved. In modern society, many Risks can only be exposed over many trials (even over many years).
Yet how can management be faulted while being rewarded along the way? (off of annual results during "the trial" which lasted for decades).

Foreign shareholders may still view BP as a friend given the recovery in the stock price while the many Americans who suffered or are still suffering would not be so warm.
And labeling BP as an enemy would not be inappropriate for the relatives of those who tragically lost their lives,

So Corporations are not people. Simply put, they exist to maximize shareholder value.
People are by Nature selfish; yet profit is only one form of pleasure or fulfillment.
For the sake of a sustainable society, a sense of Morality also has to weigh in.
And as Modern society has become so complicated in terms of measuring the risks behind motivations for profit, Corporations need to be at the center of debate. Especially now as TBTF has shown its ugly truth.

Budget Cuts, yes we need them as we are too overextended in National Debt.
The Debt debate has spurred a deep crisis of confidence that devoids our economy of consumer spending, job creation, productivity, and inspiration.

Yet before taking panicked action, should we not rise to the occasion and strive for line-by-line scrutiny of every expense we are facing? True Reform requires a commitment where nothing should be held 100% sacred or off-limits.

It is obvious the special interests and their lobbyists will attack everything and anything that preserves their funding.
Not surprisingly, these activists are demanding we knock off trillions from our "entitlement programs" (claiming it's our only saving grace) which deflects attention and even hides whatever they are getting away with, whether sinister or outrageous. Does a few $ billion of misguided taxpayer money here and there really matter in the context of trillions?
At least that's their incentive and argument...

The newly formed "SuperCongress" best serves us with line-by-line accountability. Can we the public demand it?
If incapable, then IMHO a broad strokes cut (such as 25% across everything) sets a good precedent.
Any program or service that cannot make ends meet with 75% of their budget should be forced to make a strong case to the public. Justify its existence and prove its sensible value.
My guess this effort weeds out poorly run operations and may even expose frauds who count on their power over the system and are blinded by arrogance.
And positive results of such a precedent can lead to a path of political courage to execute the line-by-line accountability that was originally forsaken. Perhaps even alleviate the crisis of confidence.

Ask yourself this : If you face financial hardship even bankruptcy, would you consider starving yourself to make ends meet while continuing to spend the same $$$ smoking, drinking, gambling, and other questionable habits?

Budget Cuts, yes we need them as we are too overextended in National Debt.
The Debt debate has spurred a deep crisis of confidence that devoids our economy of consumer spending, job creation, productivity, and inspiration.

Yet before taking panicked action, should we not rise to the occasion and strive for line-by-line scrutiny of every expense we are facing? True Reform requires a commitment where nothing should be held 100% sacred or off-limits.

It is obvious the special interests and their lobbyists will attack everything and anything that preserves their funding.
Not surprisingly, these activists are demanding we knock off trillions from our "entitlement programs" (claiming it's our only saving grace) which deflects attention and even hides whatever they are getting away with, whether sinister or outrageous. Does a few $ billion of misguided taxpayer money here and there really matter in the context of trillions?
At least that's their incentive and argument...

This supercommittee best serves us with line-by-line accountability. Can we the public demand it?
If incapable, then IMHO a broad strokes cut (such as 25% across everything) sets a good precedent.
Any program or service that cannot make ends meet with 75% of their budget should be forced to make a strong case to the public.
My guess this effort weeds out poorly run operations and may even expose frauds who count on their power over the system and are blinded by arrogance.
And positive results of such a precedent can lead to a path of political courage to execute the line-by-line accountability that was originally forsaken. Perhaps even alleviate the crisis of confidence.

Ask yourself this : If you face financial hardship even bankruptcy, would you consider starving yourself to make ends meet while continuing to spend the same $$$ smoking, drinking, gambling, and other questionable habits?

what a problematic tale! and the kids suffer the most with misguided direction.

I hope sensibility and retrospection has allowed for proper reform of the reform.

sure, progress comes at risks and costs, yet we cannot be afraid to try...

Education accountability is primarily held at the State and Local level no?
Nevertheless, my thoughts:

I recently watched the documentary "The Cartel".

It is shockingly clear our education system is failing, proven in the #s (scoring/rankings).

Of the many criticisms pointed out by the movie, I find shocking the lack of accountability behind the excessive administrative costs associated with our system of independent school districts; logic dictates that too many layers of administration leads to inherent inefficiency and promotes corruption, and both seem to have deeply infected our education system.

We know our children are losing. And a loud argument is being made our teachers are losing as well. IMO this creates the wrong debate. Should not the obvious source of fault be in the Administrators, who are accountable for both? and most importantly, who control the flow of money which is the defining resource parents and taxpayers have been victimized in their willingness to spend, without realizing the futility nor who in fact is being enrichened the most.

How do you propose we attack this critical issue of failed ownership and leadership stemming from inefficient, excessive, and even corrupt school Administration? Not just at the top but all of the layers.

Our country is mired in a crisis of confidence. IMO Reforming our educational system will go a long way in restoring confidence since no-one can deny that the hopes and prosperity of our children will define our country's future.

the drop in unemployment went hand-in-hand with the house of cards being erected; false hopes led to further fiscal irresponsibility.

look at the job #s just posted by the BLS for July 2011:
Construction -1.7 million
Durable Goods -1.4 million
Retail Trade -1.0 million
Professional and Business Services -800 thousand
Financial Activities -600 thousand
these are losses vs December 2007.

3 years later we can see the aftermath in job loss confirming the nature of the house of cards and which industries the bad risk and leverage was built upon. (and do not forget how much stimulus $ was injected into the Financial Activities industry!)

you prefer a crooked game? and you support unfair tax policy?
the American revolution was born in defiance of those unsustainable practices no?

I believe in lean and mean government too.

However, we must keep in mind that great good and innovation can come out of government funded projects:

the INTERNET:
"1958 . President Eisenhower requests funds to create ARPA. Approved as a line item in Air Force appropriations bill." http://www.webopedia.com/quick_ref/timeline.asp

SOLAR PV:
"In the 1960s, the space industry began to make the first serious use of the technology to provide power aboard spacecraft. Through the space programs, the technology advanced, its reliability was established, and the cost began to decline." http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-n...

Of course, jump-starting innovation is a far cry from creating layers upon layers of bureaucratic hocus pocus that drain the wealth of the nation...

I believe in progress which can only come from a "fair game".

shouldn't the top 25 public corporations in America pay their fair share (domestically)? At least to support America when we need it most? and even promote competition bringing in new business who otherwise cannot even give it a try in a crooked game.

Crisis in confidence --- cleaning up US corporate tax policy would help the cause of restoring public confidence (besides helping reduce our national debt crisis).

I'm not sure comparing Obama to Woodrow Wilson is the means to an end you are seeking: http://donsnotes.com/politics/president_ratings.h...