> These are trillion-dollar powered for-profit entities, with armies of lawyers and lobbyists that can intimidate medium sized countries. They will exploit every weakness of incompetent, confused and captured regulatory/political systems.
I don't think the need to exploit opportunities is exclusive to major corporations. We see this behavior and power grabs even in petty quarrels in small amateur organizations such as small businesses and homeowner associations. The tools change but the human traits that drive this behavior is always there. There is no toggle that turns on this behavior when assets surpass a certain level.
> Because that's what they are legally obliged to do for their shareholders.
I don't think they are "legally obliged" to anyone, or even "obliged" at all. Their leadership is driven to exploit the tools at their reach to meet their goals, and that's precisely what they do.