Berkeley City Council Calls for Revocation of Corporate Constitutional Rights
Council votes unanimously for state and federal constitutional amendments revoking corporate constitutional protections.
Berkeley, CA (PRWEB) June 21, 2004 -- On June 15 the Berkeley City Council
became the latest and largest city to pass a resolution regarding corporate
constitutional protections. The council unanimously supported amendments to the
California state and U.S. Constitutions declaring that corporations are not
granted the protections or rights of natural persons and that expenditure of
corporate money is not constitutionally protected free speech. The resolution
asserts that corporations dominate the political process and deny citizens their
right to govern through democracy. The resolution is available by phoning
1-866-280-1409 x600 or on the web: http://www.personsinc.org/Berkeley-resolution.html ;
Ted Nace, founder of Berkeley's Peachpit Press, a leading computer book
publisher, said, "This resolution is not anti-business. In fact, placing limits
on the political power of mega-corporations aids independent businesses and
smaller chains." He added, "It coincides with perfectly sound business logic.
Eliminating the judicial construction of corporate constitutional rights is
quite vital to preserving and enhancing business conditions." Nace authored the
book, "Gangs of America: the Rise of Corporate Power and the Disabling of
Democracy."
Councilmember Betty Olds said, "I voted for it after so many
people contacted me in favor of it plus just common sense that it was the right
thing to do."
The Berkeley resolution is the most recent resolution in
the U.S. addressing what is frequently referred to as "corporate personhood."
The first was in Point Arena, CA in 2000. Arcata, CA passed a resolution this
May and is currently drafting local legislation. Licking Township in
Pennsylvania has so far passed two ordinances and has several more pending.
The Washington, Maine, and New Hampshire state Democratic parties have
recently adopted platform planks decrying corporate personhood. The Green Party
also has a similar plank in its national platform.
The Berkeley City
Council vote comes while the documentary film, "The Corporation," a study of
corporations, their origins and their place in the modern world, is playing at a
local Berkeley cinema as well as nearly 300 theatres all over the
country.
Resources
http://www.reclaimdemocracy.org/campaigns.html
http://www.Personsinc.org
http://www.SFPersonhood.org
http://www.thecorporation.com
http://www.wilpf.org/section/campaign.htm
http://www.uua.org/world/2003/03/
http://www.reclaimdemocracy.org
http://www.gangsofamerica.com/
http://www.poclad.org/
http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/commissions/peaceandjustice/2004peaceandjustice/minutes/011204M30.htm
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/6/prweb135044.htm