This is the part of the argument I'm contesting. I'm not convinced that the public went along with it because companies put forth a well reasoned argument. It's not that we agreed to it, more so that they rigged the system in their favor, despite the opinions of the people.
I think if you poll most Americans, they wouldn't agree that Wal Mart can pay minimum wage and also have employees on food stamps. Or that CEOs should get paid x50 the average worker salary. Or that Amazon should be able to fire employees for trying to unionize. Or that coal mines can dump toxic waste in rivers.
There's actually a huge list of things companies do that are against what many Americans believe, and yet they still get their way. That's my point. The power balance is truly in the favor of the corporate elite. I'm really not sure how much we're letting them do anything, and how much they're just rigging the system the way they want it.