Corporations Are Not People, Money Is Not Speech, City Council Says

[mike_c]

Source: City News Service

In a discussion about money in politics, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously agreed Tuesday that corporations are not people and not entitled to the same constitutional protections.

The council's 11-0 vote in front of a packed chamber of Occupy L.A. members and other activists drew a standing ovation.

If supported by the mayor, the city would be on record in support of federal legislation that would ensure corporations are not entitled to the same rights as people, especially when it comes to spending money to influence elections. It also proposed language for a constitutional amendment declaring that money is not a form of speech and affirming the right of the federal government to regulate corporations.

The resolution is, in part, a reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court's 5-4 decision in the 2010 case, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. The court majority agreed that corporations and unions can spend unlimited amounts of money in elections.

more@link

Read more: http://hollywood.patch.com/articles/corporations-are-not-people-money-is-not-speech-city-council-says

[MADem]

1. Bless their hearts!

That's the kind of federal legislation I like.

[Demeter]

2. The Battle Is Joined!

[stellanoir]

3. Thank goodness.

Would that it were all major municipalities and all so-called "higher authorities" would recognize the multiple fallacies of "corporate personhood."

The fundamental litmus test,

is that they do not have a singular heart beat.

I certainly wouldn't want to marry one.

Like everyone, I'd be thoroughly expendable and entirely replaceable.

That would be heartless behavior, unlike most sentient life forms.

sheesh

[oldhippydude]

5. agreed

i certainly wouldn't want to marry one, after all, all the good ones are already married to reublicans!!!

[russspeakeasy]

4. A glimpse of sanity...

[Mnemosyne]

6. K&R! n/t

[HillWilliam]

7. Awesome! As another DUer said: I'll believe corporations are people

when Rick Perry executes one.

[SoapBox]

8. However, we also heard that those arrested at Occupy LA were given a "plea" deal...

that included, GET THIS...

attending a class on First Amendment Rights.

AND they would have to pay for it, between $100-$300.

What the hell is that all about????

[SammyWinstonJack]

9. LAPD and Mayor Villian need to take that class.

:wtf:

[ccavagnolo]

10. well thats some good news

for once.

[liberal N proud]

11. Unless you are in Washington

:sarcasm:

[Zorra]

12. But the dirty hippies of Occupy have done nothing!

:sarcasm:

[wordpix]

13. YEAH! A major city joins the effort

[MedicalAdmin]

14. That council is about to discover reality next election cycle.

In america corporations are people ( without the attendant responsibilities ) and money is political speech. They can count on that money being used against them actively next election cycle.

That is the new reality. They are the new boss. And anyone who forgets will be forcibly reminded.

[socialindependocrat]

15. Need to investigate the SCOUS

If courts around the country continue to decide that
Citizens United should be reversed what happens to the
Supreme Court?

Do we have an investigation that shows they voted along party lines?

Do they get fined?

Does the President chew them out?

I feel that this was one screw up that shouldn't go unpunished.
The Supreme Court does not make decisions based on the law.

They need to all go on 60 minutes and tell the country what deranged
logic they used to justify their decision.

My logic:
All corporations are run by the top 1%
They use corporate money to promote the people they have bought
The rank and file need an equal amount of dollars to support their chosen representatives.
If not then I say it is misappropriation of corporate funds.

[Brigid]

16. Fine.

So when are they going to do something about that gang of thugs otherwise known as the LAPD?

[Uncle Joe]

17. Kicked and recommended, now the mayor and city council need to act like they respect

the people's First Amendment's rights and lay off the abuse of the Occupy Protesters.

Thanks for the thread, mike_c.