Rod Hay asks and asserts: "Does not the existence of corporate bodies   
(collectivities) make these ideas inapplicable for modern society? No   
matter how much the law tries to pretend that they are individuals."   
Some others have written in support of Rod's point of view.  
  
I don't see how the existence of corporations undermines the argument   
for or about individualism.  A corporation indeed may act differently   
from some of its individual board members' intentions or the   
feelings/intentions of some of its employees.  But some of those who   
feel disappointed with the corporation's decisions can always quit the   
enterprise and find some other that may better suit their interests or   
preferences.  The corporation's share holders that do not like the   
board's activities either may sell their shares or vote to dismiss the   
board when they next have the opportunity to do so.  I think Milton   
Friedman illustrates these points very well in his _Capitalism and   
Freedom_ (1962), although some may consider the title of that book   
oxymoronic, especially, if they have not read it.  
  
Indeed, the freedom to choose one's actions is often much greater when   
dealing with corporations than with family members.  Children can't   
divorce their parents, parents can't sell their wayward children -- at   
least not legally --, and without a great deal of compromising, couples   
sign divorce papers.  
  
The freedom to live according to one's personal preferences gets further   
reduced in the political sphere or "marketplace."  There losers in   
elections must live with the dictates of the majority until the next   
round of elections.  In a dictatorship, socialist or otherwise, one has   
three choices.  Live with the dictates of the ruler(s), go to jail in   
attempting to act on your own preferences, or leave the country, if you   
can.  
  
Thus, equality before the law may well be a legal fiction.  After all   
two attorneys commanding the same fees may deliver different   
capabilities at trial.  But democratic capitalism comes closest to   
conferring that "equality" on individuals than any other form of   
politico-economic organization.  Alfred Marshall, in his _Industry and   
Trade_ (1923), reflects this insight very well when he cautions against   
the pursuit of socialistic schemes, although he harbored socialistic   
aspirations, picked up from J.S. Mill.  
  
James Ahiakpor