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Since corporations are entities created by states, we could deal with this issue by amending state constitutions and/or corporate laws or regulations.
The states could rule that corporations could not give money to politicians unless approved by a majority of the shareholders.
RE Shareholder proposal to obtain requiring permission before the corporation can spend money on campaigns.
Don't think it will fly.
Stockholders own a corporation, but the Board of Directors is responsible for managing the corporation.
I can only hope that progressives rally around Instant Runoff Voting and Public Campaign Reform now, heck yesterday. Too much time has been wasted on hoping that our political leaders will act appropriately.
IRV...PCR... IRV...PCR
Thom,
The Repugs. (and "The Family"?) are also supporting the military coup in Honduras.
Let us subjectcorporations to "Three Strikes You're Out".
Since we can't put corporations in jail, we can simply subject them to the same restrictions as prisoners: limited physical mobility, all communications inspected by jailors, no possession of weapons.
GEPh
Re We should the demand the same rights as corporations such as limited liability.
Good Point!
Some of the articles and news reports insert unions also benifiting from this decision. This is bogus since members who do not agree with the endorsement can petition the union for a refund of the portion of dues spent towards political action. What recourse do employees or the individual shareholder have if (s)he does not support the endorsement?
Nels, it may come sooner than you think.
"Citizens United" may kill democracy in our United States, but there remains the European Union, India, Japan etc. They seem to be using our mistakes as cautionary tales. Let us hope they continue and develop the democratic (small 'd') experiment.
Once our corporate owners have sucked our United States dry and moved on to their next conquests, we may be free again, just poor.
I do take comfort in this quote though (Princess Leia to Grand Moff Tarkin)
"The more you tighten your grip, the more systems slip through your fingers."
Eventually this too will pass. (Probably not in my lifetime though)
Today the children of the East India Company have been awarded the property stolen from them over three hundred years ago, with intrest. With the Supreme court ruling this morning the children of the East India Copmany(transcontinal corperations) have been given the right to reclaim the American colonies that they lost over three hundred years ago.
@AVATAR
I wasn't really trying to spin it as positive for progressives,
just trying to fit a meme that would make the right wingnuts as upset about it as the rest of us.
I'm tired of being a second class citizen just cuz I had the misfortune of being born human!
We should the demand the same rights as corporations such as limited liability.
Looks like it is time to sue under the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.
@rewinn well its necessary to put the chilling fear of prison into the souls of the underclass so they are willing to accept slave wages. Prison guards don't make profit off of people sleeping under bridges. Also the privileged class really does not like the unpleasant icky feelings they get are confronted with human suffering as the drive down the street.
To corporations its not only necessary put the majority of us in the gutter, they also have strong desires to keep their boots on our necks.
debtors callbanks - they are cheaper than india - $1 a day until your debt is paid off... oh and we charge $2 a day for meals...
rewinn,
Yes, a very pragmatic solution.
Nels, I've been thinking the same thing...
Nels - why have debtors' prisons when there's plenty of bridges to sleep under?
Prisoners have to be fed. The homeless can be ignored.
Anyone want to take bets on how long before we see debtors prisons?
If Obama is wondering what he should be doing, he should listen to his speeches from the campaign. This is why we voted for him. It's time - it's critical - that he now put words into action. Words do matter when they are backed by action!
Jay just said that the Supreme Court decision said, "if the corporations have some rights, then they should have full rights." Oh really...well, now corporations have more rights that gays. Hmmm...
Corporations are in effect, cities, states, countries.
@bluemark- thx, you brought me a small ray of hope!
Also, if anyone has read Megatrends - you saw this all coming down the road, as well as Future... can't recall name of that last book-
But what about non-profits? I know you can be a 3c vs a 4c and then be political, but why not get rid of the septum?
MoveToAmend.org
(707) 269-0984
America will be the new China. Corporations have been to the mountain and that mountain is China. An empire linked at the hip to its industry works perfectly for the multi-national corporations.
This decision will result in the dismantling of hard fought consumer and worker protections.
"Citizens United" stands for the proposition that Al Qaeda recruiting videos have the same first amendment rights as everyone else.