Baby steps toward ending corporate domination....

[marmar]

Published on Wednesday, June 7 2006 by The Nation
Citizens 1, Corporations 0
by John Nichols

In states across the country Tuesday, primary elections named candidates for Congress, governorships and other important offices. But the most interesting, and perhaps significant, election did not involve an individual. Rather, it was about an idea.

In Northern California's Humboldt County, voters decided by a 55-45 margin that corporations do not have the same rights -- based on the supposed "personhood" of the combines -- as citizens when it comes to participating in local political campaigns.

Until Tuesday in Humboldt County, corporations were able to claim citizenship rights, as they do elsewhere in the United States. In the context of electoral politics, corporations that were not headquartered in the county took advantage of the same rules that allowed individuals who are not residents to make campaign contributions in order to influence local campaigns.

But, with the passage of Measure T, an initiative referendum that was placed on the ballot by Humboldt County residents, voters have signaled that they want out-of-town corporations barred from meddling in local elections.

The rest of the article is at: http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0607-31.htm

[Jackpine Radical]

1. Good.

I think the worst aspect of corporate "personhood" is that the corporate charters pretty much force the corporation into being a psychopathic "person," seeking only its own short-term welfare at the expense of the society at large.

(Edit: Jeez, I can't type today!!1!1)

[Cerridwen]

2. This is fabulous news!

Thank you for posting. Have you posted in GD Politics? I think it would fit right in for those who want to take action.

K & R.

[marmar]

3. Thanks....

I think I will repost it in GD politics....It was kind of inspirational, like the end of the documentary "The Corporation." :)

[Cerridwen]

4. Great! I'll watch and K & R there, too.

As you can tell, I'm excited about this idea and I want to keep it in my face as well as the faces of others.

Hmm, wonder how I can start this kind of movement where I now live...? Time to research.