DancingBear said:
The shareholders elect the directors. And if they don't like the way the company is going, they can sell their stock, which (if enough others join in) will lower the stock prices.
As rules stand now (not only for disney) shareholders have little to say other than to get some rules changed, or get votes to overcome the house odds. It is possible to vote directors out, but the rules are stacked against you. All shares are voted in all elections. If shareholders don't vote or exercise a proxy the board automatically vote the shares by proxy. And you know how they will vote.
The board also have the say in who will run for election. It is the old Soviet style. A person is selected to run by the nominating committe (and you know who controls it). The vote choice is yes or no. If yes wins the person wins. If no wins, the board (committee) picks someone else to run (assuming only one person is running).
There is movement to change the rules allowing shareholders of corporations to slate their own candidates anytime elections are held.
You saw what Disney and Gold had to go thru to get the right to nominate candidates (which they didn't do)!!
The other road block is the number of shares held by institutions.
If the majority shares are held by individuals you have a much better chance, by far, in winning. Otherwise you may be better off in selling your shares and buy into a company that shares your values.
I hope I got this right.
