Question

In federalist no. 10, Madison describes "moneyed interests" as factions that are likely to sacrifice the common good to their own self-interest. In at least 100 words, express your thoughts about how Madison might react to the current situation in which "corporations are people" that can exert power limited only by the amount of money they have. Do you think Madison would define a corporation as a faction? Why or why not?
(I'm not asking for you to actually write me a 100 word essay but at least help me get a start and more of an understanding. Thanks.)

Answer 1

I think that Madison would define a corporation as a "moneyed interest". I think its clear to any thinker that corporations of today are extremely likely, and almost always, sacrifice the common good to their own self interests, which is revenue. I think that money and profits far outweigh any moral standards that represent the common good.

Answer 2

Yes, James Madison would define modern corporations as "factions."  He saw factions as groups of people with shared interests (especially financial ones) that group together to gain advantage for themselves over others in society.

Madison's apprehensions about factions focused especially on the role of money and property in creating competing groups in society based on their wealth or property holdings.  Landholders could be such a faction.  Banking and moneylending agencies could be such a faction.  We could add that large modern corporations are factions in the same sense.  They might work their will against the majority of the people.  

Madison argued that factions of any kind war against the unity of the republic.  Factions consider only their own position, rather than the rights and well-being of the whole community or nation.