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The
U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Citizens United v. F.E.C.
(January 2010) to allow unlimited spending by corporate entities
to influence election results. In this ruling, the court treats
corporations as if they are people with the right of free speech,
including "political" speech (such as TV ads and mailers).
So
long as great wealth — mostly corporate — is allowed to
dominate our airwaves, campaigns and lobbying, we are not likely
to achieve self-government through the democracy promised at our
nation's founding, including one-person, one-vote, and government
"of, by, and for the people."
Our
struggle to achieve fair elections through public financing of campaigns
is nearly impossible so long as corporate power and great wealth
can hijack our democracy.
The
only durable reform to reclaim the voice of citizens is an amendment
to the U.S. Constitution, to firmly establish in the Constitution
that only natural persons — not corporate entities — are
"persons" with the right of free speech; and that political
spending by corporations may be restricted by law.
To
achieve this fundamental reform in our federal constitution, we
must embark on a sustained campaign to bring awareness to our friends,
co-workers and communities. Let's show how every issue we care about
is in jeopardy because lawmaking, budget priorities, and democracy
itself are all skewed by special interest — and yet, we are
not powerless if we educate and organize!
Read
Why
Amend the Constitution
A one-page handout, summarizing these points.
Read Key
Points to Citizens United 2010 ruling
Also read/download
How
to reclaim democracy for PEOPLE—What to know; What
to do
Democracy
for People - Organizing Plan 2011
Gather signatures on Citizens'
Petition: Overturn Citizens United
Read Recipe
for Legislative Action by Grassroots Advocacy
Additional
links to recommended videos, articles and information, below.
Organizations
for a 28th Amendment
Free Speech For People.org
Move To Amend.org
Public Citizen
Rootstrikers
Environmental
and Social Responsibility Amendment (ESRA)
by Network of Spiritual Progressives
Videos
Video
with Congresswoman Donna Edwards - Why a proposed constitutional
amendment
FSFP
home page - with video by Jamie Raskin, Constitutional
law expert at American University, and Maryland state senator
Interview
by Amy Goodman (Democracy Now) -
with Jeff Clements and John Bonifaz
Articles
and Links
Overturn
Citizens United - for Fair Elections, Fair Economy
(PDF, Op-Ed article, December 2010, by Craig Salins)
Nationwide
Voter Survey - PDF by Hart Research, January 2011
showing overwhelming support to end corporate personhood through
a constitutional amendment.
Thom
Hartmann: Wal-Mart Is Not a Person - From his book, "Rebooting
the American Dream" - reprinted on Truthout
Corporate
Personhood - definition and history - Wikipedia article
Proposed
resolutions - supporting a Constitutional amendment
Summary
of proposals for Constitutional Amendments
Generic
Resolution by Free Speech For People
Generic
Resolution in Washington State
Constitutional rights for people, not corporations
More
website links from "Free Speech For People"
FSFP
home page - with video by Jamie Raskin, Constitutional
law expert at American University, and Maryland state senator
Letter
to Congress, October, 2010 - by former Attorneys General
and law school leaders (article about the letter, and links to
PDF of letter at bottom of page)
Proposed
Amendment XXVIII - by Free Speech For People
2011
State Resolutions in Support of Amending the Constitution
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