Paul Cienfuegos – Corporations vs. People (lecture)
The United Supreme Court decision gave corporations a green light to secretly funnel in as much money as they want to elect candidates. The justices in their supreme wisdom have once again privileged corporations over citizens.
The results have been dramatic. Even with a weak economy a record amount of cash has flooded political campaigns.
Although corporations are not mentioned anywhere in the Constitution or Bill of Rights a series of legal decisions have given them the rights of personhood and free speech. Focusing on limiting or even stopping corporate harms is an inadequate response to a fundamental problem. And that is corporations rule and not the people. Citizens are marginalized and are left with Coke and Pepsi choices.
Paul Cienfuegos is a community organizer and activist. He co-founded Democracy Unlimited of Humboldt County in Northern California, an organization which works to dismantle corporate rule. He lectures and leads workshops on this topic.
Comments
Undoing Corporate Personhood
Tonight I listened on NPR to Paul Cienfuego's lecture on dismantling corporate rule. I wish I knew of any organization which is dedicated to this goal here in Oregon, because I would like to add my activism to such an endeavor. I think that would be more valuable than simply purchasing a bumper sticker for example.
Is there any structured group of activists trying to make headway with this, modeled after the Pennsylvania example given by Paul Cienfuegos?
Best,
Diane H.