Citizens Quote by John Perkins
““...pointed out that the corporation enjoys the same rights as a living person under the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution. This concept was upheld in 1886 by the Supreme Court in 'Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad Company' and has been a fact of law ever since. I emphasized to those executives that the corporation should also be required to accept the same responsibilities as those expected of a person; it too should be a good citizen, an honorable, ethical member of the community. In the case of international corporations, that community has to be defined as the world.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on corporate responsibility, 1990s
Corporations are granted constitutional rights but must also bear equal responsibilities as citizens, including ethical behavior globally.
In simple terms: Corporations should act like good citizens worldwide.
Key Takeaway
Demand corporate accountability.
Themes
ethics
law
global citizenship
corporate responsibility
Mood
critical
determined
hopeful
Type
political
ethical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- shareholder meetings
- policy drafting
- public advocacy
- international trade negotiations
Key Concepts
legal personhood
social contract
stakeholder theory
Questions to Reflect On
- How can corporations be held accountable internationally?
- What mechanisms ensure ethical conduct?
A Different Perspective
Balancing profit motives with ethical duties can be challenging.
