You said:
Holding shares in a publicly traded company does not represent "ownership". It is not a direct relationship. If it were a direct relationship you would benefit directly if the company were profitable and would also be directly on the hook if losses are incurred. I know the difference as I have owned businesses. As much as you would like to see yourselves as "owners" - you are not. You are shareholders. That's it.
You guys can all spin it any way you like from here! Good luck.
So who does own the company?
Techically the Corporation owns the company yes?
Who owns the Corporation?
Shareholders?
What person would be on the hook for losses? Are creditors going to pierce the corporate veil and go after anyone ? Your logic is hard to understand.
Direct relationship:
Profitable = shareprice goes up, dividends, profits put back into company making it stronger, share buy back, MA to diversify income streams?
Losses= share price goes down, liqidation of parts of business, capital calls through creditors, shares are issued etc...
Sounds pretty direct to me!