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Corporate Power steals it! Are we ready to take back our own Democracy?. Michael Greenman “Citizens Intent on Reforming Corporate Accountability” ********** First Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbus. Script by Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
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Corporate Power steals it! Are we ready to take back our own Democracy? Michael Greenman “Citizens Intent on Reforming Corporate Accountability” ********** First Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbus Script by Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom Cartoons by Matt Wuerker
Corporation? • In Constitution? No! • Not popular with colonists • Corporations = Control by States • Closest Supervision by the people • Corporate Charters: • What could do • How Long • With Whom • Where and When
The Amendments Keep Coming! • 1893 - 5th: Due Process Protection • 1906 - 4th: Search and Seizure Protection • 1925 - 1st: Freedom the Press & Speech
1976 : Money = Free Speech • Equal - “Under the Law” • Most of us don’t know it!
Abstract Existence • Added: Abstract Property • Mineral Rights • Drilling Rights • Air Pollution Credits • Intellectual Property • Rights to Future Profits
Slow “D”evolution • Constitutional Times: • Widely reviled • 1890: • Commonplace institution • 2000: • Our invisible government
Reversing the “Wrongs” • Resistance evolves: Slavery • Fundamentally wrong • Abolitionists • Slavery had to go!
Repeat the Process • Wrongly given • Started with an illegitimate Judicial Act • Wrongly retained • Relegates us to subhuman status • Rights turned upside down • They govern us: • “CP” - has to go!
What is a “Person”? Slavery is the Legal Fiction that a Person is Property Corporate Personhood is the Legal Fiction that Property is a Person • In a democracy: what is sovereignty? • “We the People” - Who is in charge?
NO CP - What Changes? • 1st: Prohibit Corporate Political Activity! • 4th: Environmental protection becomes possible • 5th, 14th: Prevent from merging, organize openly, citizen sovereignty vs. corporate governanance
“Mother of all Issues” • Activist Causes • Environment • Trade Unions • Globalization • Healthcare • Education • Agriculture • Campaign Finance Reform • Media • Peace • Etc.!!!!
The Path Forward • Grass Roots • Politicians won’t help • Information • National Networks • Local and then National ACTION!!
Contacts • Citizens Intent on Reforming Corporate Accountability • www.firstuucolumbus.org/corppers (or) circainfo.org • Program on Corporations Law and Democracy • www.poclad.org • Reclaim Democracy • www.reclaimdemocracy.org • Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom • www.wilpf.org • Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF) • www.celdf.org