Sure, Amazon shareholders can "make or break the lives of millions"... but only if the government lets them. Neither Amazon nor its shareholders can really overrule what the American government decides. In theory, this means that you and I hold ultimate power, and Amazon operates at our discretion.

The real problem is that the American government is beholden to corporations like Amazon, and the ultra wealthy like Amazon's shareholders. Not you and me. This in turn comes back to campaign finance reform. As long as politicians are beholden to the wealthy to fund their election campaigns, you and I aren't going to have nearly as much say.