Maybe at some level of debenture. At the common stock level they are definitely forever not agents for the investors. Active and agent are the same word at root, somewhat redundous. The history of the rise of the American modern corporation is fascinating, which I never thought could be possible when I was studying physics. But, in trying to find a way to mine asteroids I have been led to study many things that I formerly viewed as attractive as [fill in your favorite noxious substance here]. The place of corporations in America and in the world seems to be vital to the present ascendancy of the West, and alone seems to make space exploration possible. How to guide it to the conquest of outer space is the problem.
How to guide a money-grubbing, socially insensitive, mindlessly immoral entity in a particular direction ... Don't tell me, now. Let me think about it ... I know this one ...