They can die, unless bailed out

Regarding the Sunday letter “Can corporations get death penalty”: Most people don’t understand that corporations are afforded the same benefits, and penalties as people. Companies can enter into contracts, own property, have bank accounts, get married to another company, incur debt, own vehicles and legally do most everything a living person can do.

However, if a corporation does not serve its stockholder owners, bond-holders, investors, customers, or acts recklessly, it can indeed receive the death penalty. That is unless the government is determined, and decides to spend untold amounts of taxpayer money to put the failing corporation on expensive, never-ending life support. This is exactly what happens when corporations receive government bailout money from an already stressed taxpayer.

John Branthoover

Arlington