Ending Corporate Governance . . .

[OneBlueSky]

should be the new mantra of Progressives . . . this is THE issue that supersedes and encompasses all others . . . the bottom line of the current struggle between the corporatocracy and the people is the question of who will control our government and our nation: We, the People (as our Founding Fathers articulated), or They, the Corporations . . . here's what some have said . . .

"I hope we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial of strength and bid defiance to the laws of our country." Thomas Jefferson

"There is an evil which ought to be guarded against in the indefinite accumulation of property from the capacity of holding it in perpetuity by... corporations. The power of all corporations ought to be limited in this respect. The growing wealth acquired by them never fails to be a source of abuses. It's one of the reasons why the word "corporation" doesn't exist in the constitution - they were to be chartered only by states, so local people could keep a close eye on them." James Madison, Father of the Constitution

"In this point of the case the question is distinctly presented whether the people of the United States are to govern through representatives chosen by their unbiased suffrages or whether the money and power of a great corporation are to be secretly exerted to influence their judgment and control their decisions." Andrew Jackson

"I am more than ever convinced of the dangers to which the free and unbiased exercise of political opinion - the only sure foundation and safeguard of republican government - would be exposed by any further increase of the already overgrown influence of corporate authorities." Martin van Buren

"As a result of the war, corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed. I feel at this moment more anxiety than ever before, even in the midst of war. God grant that my suspicions may prove groundless." Abraham Lincoln

"As we view the achievements of aggregated capital, we discover the existence of trusts, combinations, and monopolies, while the citizen is struggling far in the rear or is trampled to death beneath an iron heel. Corporations, which should be the carefully restrained creatures of the law and the servants of the people, are fast becoming the people's masters." Grover Cleveland

"Behind the ostensible government sits enthroned an invisible government owing no allegiance and acknowledging no responsibility to the people. To destroy this invisible government, to befoul the unholy alliance between corrupt business and corrupt politics is the first task of the statesmanship of the day." Theodore Roosevelt

“The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic State itself. That, in its essence, IS Fascism.” Franklin Delano Roosevelt

“In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.” Dwight David Eisenhower

there are many initiatives currently underway addressing corporate governance and corporate personhood . . . some resources you may wish to check out . . .

Ending Corporate Governance: We the People Revoking Our Plutocracy
http://www.ratical.org/corporations/

Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad - 1886 Supreme Court decision granting corporations the same rights as living persons
http://www.ratical.org/corporations/SCvSPR1886.html

Reclaiming Democracy: Restoring Citizen Authority Over Corporations
http://reclaimdemocracy.org/

Declaration on Ending Corporate Personhood
http://www.iiipublishing.com/afd/declare.htm

POCLAD: Program on Corporations, Law & Democracy
http://www.poclad.org/

People-Centered Development Forum
http://www.pcdf.org/

Endgame Research Services
http://www.endgame.org/

A Primer on Incorporation and Monopoly
http://www.endgame.org/primer.html

Multinational Monitor
http://multinationalmonitor.org

Taking Care of Business: Citizenship and the Charter of Incorporation
http://www.nancho.net/bigbody/chrtink1.html

"The Railroad Barons Are Back - And This Time They'll Finish The Job" by Thom Hartmann
http://www.commondreams.org/views02/1211-01.htm

"Corporism: The Systemic Disease That Destroys Civilization" by Ken Reiner
http://www.thealliancefordemocracy.org/html/eng/1933-AA.shtml

"Sins of the Fathers: How Corporations Use the Constitution and Environmental Law to Plunder Communities and Nature" by Thomas Alan Linzey, Esq.
http://www.ratical.org/corporations/TAL030404.html

"Americans Revolt in Pennsylvania - New Battle Lines Are Drawn" by Thom Hartmann
http://www.commondreams.org/views02/1219-06.htm

"Unequal Protection: The Rise of Corporate Dominance and the Theft of Human Rights" - book by Thom Hartmann
http://www.thomhartmann.com/unequalprotection.shtml


"Very similar questions are very much alive in the international arena today. The talk about reforming financial architecture and that sort of thing. A century ago, right about that time, corporations were granted the rights of persons by radical judicial activism, an extreme violation of classical liberal principles. They were also freed from earlier obligations to keep to specific activities for which they were chartered. Furthermore, in an important move, the courts shifted power upwards, from the stockholders in a partnership to the central management, which was identified with the immortal corporate person." Noam Chomsky, Taking Control of Our Lives: Freedom, Sovereignty, and Other Endangered Species" 2/26/00
http://www.ratical.org/co-globalize/NC022600.html

[Nite Owl]

1. Could not agree more.

It's the crux of the problems. Healthcare, the environment, it all goes back to this. It should be an issue not just for Dems but for every citizen.

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. Agreed. For me it goes back to the election system. If we do these

things, among others, it will help kill the corporate gov't: http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/electionreform.htm

[OneBlueSky]

43. another advantage corporations have over individuals is that . . .

corporations are immortal . . . although they're given the same rights and privileges as individual, they don't die like individuals, and are therefore able to consolidate their wealth and power indefilitely . . . ending corporate personhood would help level the playing field, at least a little . . . a good bumper sticker might be:

CORPORATIONS ARE NOT PEOPLE!
Let's stop treating them that way.

[K-W]

3. And then democratize our economy.

The economy should serve the people just as much as the government should serve the people. Why we seem think it is ok that an aristocracy controls a large portion of our lives through the 'unregulated' economy is rediculous.

Just like governmental organizations, corporate organizations must be accountable to the people.

[Cats Against Frist]

6. People let themselves be ruled by them

By being lazy consumers. If the people fault on their end, the corporations eventually get power to RUN the government and BE the government. It starts with the people -- and THEY are the ones who let the wealthy rule.

[K-W]

12. I dont agree.

Its not like the country was a communist paradise and the people said "screw this, lets let the elites control things."

The elites have controlled things FOREVER. We managed to wrestle a some political control from them. We have yet to wrestle much economic control from them.

But you cant fault the people for not yet transcending thier humanity. It takes alot of education and thought to be able to analyze our complex society rationally and recognize what is really going on. Alot more than you can just expect of people.

[Cats Against Frist]

16. So, instead we expect them to come to the same conclusions

but instead of doing anything about it, vote the "right" way, so the government can do something about it?

I have a feeling we both want the same end product -- just different ways of going about it. I think you can and you MUST expect people to "transcend" their humanity -- especially when the other side is working as hard as they can to get them to NOT transcend their humanity. And if you can say that you can't fault "the people" for not transcending their own slovenliness, why can you fault the rich for grabbing up everything that THEY can? It's the same humanity, no?

And, if you read my post below, I do not want all regulations to go away, and I want stiff penalties for the infringement on life, liberty or property.

I want the corporation to lose its human status. I want the corporations OUT of governance. I do not worship money or the market or anything -- but I am against increased federal government power -- for the same reason that I stressed in the last post. What happens when YOU are no longer in power -- but another group of people get to manipulate the power structure that YOU built up? Not to mention that a large federal government sets the stage for building up and securing concentration of wealth.

[K-W]

18. The federal government doesnt set the stage for anything.

The accumlation of wealth is the trend of every society that has ever existed in the history of humanity. Federal government or no federal governemnt.

It is what happens when you let people interect economically with no checks. Wealth begets wealth.

The only solution is to bring the economy under the control of a government that is fully accountible to an informed population.

[Cats Against Frist]

21. If the population can be expected to be "informed,"

why can't they be expected to make healthy and proper and just choices with that information?

[K-W]

27. I would never expect it to be informed.

We have to work to create the structures neccessary to inform the people.

This means we need to focus on desinging our educational system properly and properly desiging our media establishment itself.

We arent just going to fall into a better country, we have to build it.

[Imperialism Inc.]

49. It is actually pretty simple.

If it is one dollar one [economic] vote, then he with the most dollars wins. That is why it has to be through the government and not the market. One person one vote is what we are after.

[CrispyQ]

22. In response to your statement:

"The accumlation of wealth is the trend of every society that has ever existed in the history of humanity."

I just finished Thom Hartman's book, The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight." He tells of two types of human cultures. Younger cultures (competitive, dominating) & older cultures (cooperative, sharing). Basically they are two different world views of how to live. Younger cultures: You are with us or against us. Older cultures: Live & let live. Younger cultures are on a quest for material wealth. Older cultures define wealth as time spent with family & friends, time to relax & enjoy nature, that type of thing.

It is a very good book that offers a sublte but powerful solution to many of our current problems -- change our world view. Obviously, more eaisly said than done. However, any undertaking to fix this muck we've created is going to take hard work & we just as well try a solution that won't put us back in the muck again.

I highly recommend it. Perhaps your library has a copy.

[AliciaKeyedUp]

48. No thanks

I like having some economic independence from others.

Oh, and let me know where you find this magically informed population.

[rman]

33. The elites aren't going to give up control all by themselves.

That leaves the people as the only possibility to end corporate rule.

[aquart]

4. What is the purpose of a nation?

Is it to facillitate corporations, or is it something else? Because the Bush administration exists ONLY to facillitate corporations. Is there something else a nation should have in mind?

[CrispyQ]

5. Thanks for the many links . . .

I've visted some of the pages you link to, but many are new to me.

Yes, CORPORATE PERSONHOOD IS THE CRITICAL ISSUE FOR OUR DEMOCRACY! I suspect in the future, I will not support a party that does not address this in their platform.

Below are two very good books by Thom Hartman regarding corporate personhood. The first is written in a sort of comic book fashion -- a quick but very informative read. I think it would also be appropriate for children, aged 10 or older. The second one I've just started, but it seems very promising so far.

"We the People: A Call to Take Back America" by Thom Hartman

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1882109384/qid=1102020598/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/104-7209403-9880763


"Unequal Protection: The Rise of Corporate Dominance and the Theft of Human Rights" by Thom Hartman

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1579546277/qid=1102020664/sr=1-4/ref=sr_1_4/104-7209403-9880763?v=glance&s=books


And another one I thought was very good:

"When Corporations Rule the World" by David Korten

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1887208046/qid=1102020960/sr=2-1/ref=pd_ka_b_2_1/104-7209403-9880763

[Cats Against Frist]

7. I could not agree more

but any hallmark of this plan should not emphasize more government regulation, but the consumer taking responsibility for his or her own nation and community. It is just as much the fault of the apathetic consumer as it is the unscrupulous wealthy, and it will never change, until it stems from actions the consumer takes in making their consumer choices. Otherwise, if you don't turn the money off at the spicket, the rich simply become the government, and usurp all the lavish federal government power that we've increased -- which is EXACTLY what the Bush administration is doing.

[OneBlueSky]

11. I disagree . . .

without regulation, corporations can do whatever the hell they want, with no repercussions . . . how do individual consumers prevent corporations from raping the environment, or from outsourcing jobs? . . . corporate regulation worked very well for many years during which the economy grew gradually and steadily . . . but since Reagan, the corporate push to deregulate is returning us to the wild west days of unrestrained corporate capitalism and wealth concentration that led to the Great Depression . . . re-regulation of corporations is not only good, it's absolutely necessary . . .

[Cats Against Frist]

14. I don't think that all regulations should be scrapped

and I think there should be stiff penalties for corporations whose negligence hurts those who purchase their products, or work for them, or otherwise -- and that the air and water are community property, and that there should be strict environmental laws.

Otherwise, I DO think it is consumer at fault, as much as the corporation. How the hell do you think these corporations get money? When we walk to the store and pay money for their crap -- that's how. Except for a very few things, we could all make changes in our lives that would strip many of these corporations from getting so much damn money -- but most of us -- and YES even Democrats and progressives continue to not do anything that will inconvenience us, or cause us to actually DO something to change the world.

Think about this: let's say that your normal "liberal" who still does the bread and circuses thing with clothes and music and Volvos and whatnot, just saved a couple grand, made a committment to saving power and erected him or herself a little solar energy array to supplement their "grid" usage. Or, if they live in the country, erect a wind and solar powered system. Can you say -- sorry Dick and George -- we've found other means? Imagine if people stopped smoking and started exercising and ate simple foods, and tried to be HAPPY -- the pharmaceutical and medical companies and McDonalds and Supermega meat hormone farms would lose shittons of money.

If people started purchasing organic food, turned off their televisions, and helped in their communities -- we wouldn't need so much dumb bullshit, and these corporations WOULDN'T MAKE SO MUCH GODDAMNED MONEY. If people bought locally, there wouldn't be any corporations. If people formed local co-ops, even better.

If people joined unions and stuck with them, corporations wouldn't be able to fuck with people. If people got involved and actually GOT the corporations stripped of human status, instead of being led around like cattle by the national consciousness, the media and pop icons.

It's not just the corporations that need to be restrained by the government -- it's people that need to be restrained from their lazy, apathetic, instantly gratified selves.

I'm not perfect, but over the last several years, I've made some simple and small changes, and I can guarantee that there are a lot fewer corporations sucking up my dollars.

We don't need to be saved from corporations -- we need to be saved from ourselves.

[K-W]

15. You are operating under a false 'free will' concept of causation.

Corporations are shaped by people, but people arent shaped by corporations?

[Cats Against Frist]

19. I would like to use the "cigarette manufacturer's" defense....

;)

Because people CAN and DO get outside of the consumer spiral of bullshit, waste and crap, it is proof that people can get out of it. Particularly something as delicately psychic as this.

I think corporations certainly try to shape people -- but that doesn't mean that it's right, and that we should ignore that part and create a government that the people eventually get suspicious of, and reject because they haven't taken the time to figure out exactly from WHAT it's protecting them.

YOU are assuming, by insisting that there could be any change, at all, that they will blindly figure out to vote for the "right" side -- through what? Sloganeering? --, and then, the "right" side will take care of them through government.

[K-W]

13. Yah and tyranny wasnt the problem with monarchy, it was the people.

Only republicans are silly enough to blame individuals for the shape of a society.

[Cats Against Frist]

20. And how do you get rid of the monarchy?

You get up off your ass groove in the couch and storm the castle.

And I never said it wasn't the fault of the corporations -- just not ONLY the fault of the corporations. I believe both the people and the corporations are complicit in this crap.

I'm not a republican -- I'm a libertarian socialist. I hate the fucking GOP -- why? Because they're big government and the lie about it. I don't hate the Democrats, at all, and I generally want the same things -- just on a more decentralized level, with people being involved, and responsible consumerism. I don't think we're THAT different.

[rman]

34. we need to have proper rules, not more or less rules

Neither "more" nor "less" government rules is in and of itself the solution to this problem.

We need good rules as opposed to bad rules.

One major bad rule is that of corporate personhood.
(see www.reclaimdemocracy.org)

I'd say that (not "the consumer" but) The People's responsibility for the nation and the community, ultimately translates to having the right rules in the books.
After all, Democracy (post-Dark Ages Democracy that is) is self-rule of the people by means of an open and transparent government - as in "government of, for and by the people".

[Cats Against Frist]

35. Sorry, I'm only using "the consumer" because I am

only referring to a person's "consumer role," in that statement -- I don't see all people as consumers. Just to clarify.

:hi:

[IrateCitizen]

8. It's an issue where much of right and left agrees, as well.

I found that many of the RWers I knew through the military (the ones that were actually informed, that is) hated the ascendency of corporate power as much as I did. It was one area in which our philosophies would always converge.

Create a party dedicated to reining in corporate power, and you have a recipe for long-term success. Problem is, as it now stands, we have two major parties -- and they're both pro-corporate.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

9. Good stuff, this!

We all seem to agree on the problem. Now then, as it goes in the old fable, who here will bell the cat?
How do we fight the already existing wealth, influence and assets of corporate America?
Many of our fellow citizens have elevated corporations, in their minds, to a god-like status. The coprorations are to be thanked and worshipped because they "provide jobs for us"
The fact still and always remains, corporations exist soley to accumulate wealth. No matter what they say or put in their advertisements/marketing pieces. They care not for anything except money.
Kinda like a king or something.
French Revolution anyone? :)

[el_gato]

10. kick

[shance]

17. Terrific Thread........thank you for compiling*

n/t

[OneBlueSky]

23. kick . . . this is THE issue, folks . . .

I'd like to see this thread really take off, with lots of ideas about how we can begin a real campaign to reverse the corporate takeover of our country . . .

[CrispyQ]

24. This is depressing.

I completely agree with you, that this is THE issue! But if only 10 people on this board participated in this thread, how the heck are we ever going to get the masses to pay attention to this issue?

I worry that it won't be till the corporations have ruined everything beyond belief -- no jobs for Americans, devestation of the environment, continued protection from lawsuits for their irresponisble behavior -- that people will finally wake up. We're well on our way there, but if we have to go all the way before they wake up, will there be anything left?

I'm sorry I don't have any better ideas, other than to support some of the sites you posted in your original post & to try to educate people. I've had little luck educating people. Most people don't know what corporate personhood is & when I explain it to them, they just don't get it or perhaps they just don't care. At any rate, they do not make a connection to how harmful corporate personhood is to our very way of life.

Arghhhhhh!!!!

[OneBlueSky]

26. it is rather depressing, isn't it . . .

I think people are still trying to deal with the election . . . and many of us aren't dealing all that well . . . so engaging another issue at this point in time is difficult . . . but the bottom line is that THIS issue is what led to the stolen election . . . as well as to the war in Iraq, the pending "overhaul" of Social Security, the dismantling of environmental protections, the outsourcing of American jobs, the erosion of civil rights and civil liberties, and all the rest of it . . .

the reason we're not winning this fight is because we continue to play on their field . . . we have to move the game to our own field, and address the REAL issues . . . on their field, they keep us at each others throats over all kinds of peripheral, hot button issues in order to keep us occupied and NOT adressing the real issues . . .

when we move the game to our field, WE define the issues . . . and we use the most powerful tool in the Universe -- the TRUTH -- to do so . . . this scares them, because they understand that if the truth becomes known to the masses, they will lose . . . because there are a hell of a lot more of us than there are of them . . .

I do hope this discussion continues . . . and I hope that the emerging progressive consensus uses "Ending Corporate Governance" as its organizing principle . . . anything less and we'll just continue to spin our wheels . . . and lose . . . and lose some more . . .

[Vidar]

25. You've got this dead right--we could use both Roosevelts now.

[JanMichael]

28. I sure hope that you aren't called a Socialist after this post.

Because that's evil and scary...And about the only way to take the pretty words of the affluent and make their dreams reality...

[BeHereNow]

29. BEST. POST. EVER.

THIS is THE only issue that matters for the
rest of our lives...all else is smoke and mirrors
to distract us from THIS.
And the smoke and mirror issues are DELIBERATE.
bhn

[jpgray]

30. From one Guthrie fan to another

Amen!

:toast:

[donheld]

31. Wonderful post

i only pray we can get people to the breaking point, so they will get off their asses and fight.

[rman]

32. "their control is very fragile"...

(Modern) "corporations are illegitimate institutions, they have no right to exist.
And their control is very fragile, they know it.
It’s in principal easy to dismantle them, they understand that.
A large part of the corporate effort to appear benevolent is to make sure that - you can read it in court decisions - "an aroused population will not take away their rights"".
-- Noam Chomsky


Why corporations (as they are now) are illegitimate institutions:

How it used to be

"In Europe, charters protected directors and stockholders from liability for debts and harms caused by their corporations. American legislators rejected this corporate shield. The penalty for abuse or misuse of the charter was not a plea bargain and a fine, but dissolution of the corporation."

"In 1776 we declared independence not only from British rule, but also from the corporations of England that controlled trade and extracted wealth from the US (and other) colonies. Thus, in the early days of our country, we only allowed corporations to be chartered (licensed to operate) to serve explicitly as a tool to gather investment and disperse financial liability in order to provide public goods, such as construction of roads, bridges or canals.
After fighting a revolution for freedom from colonialism, our country's founders retained a healthy fear of the similar threats posed by corporate power and wisely limited corporations exclusively to a business role. These state laws, many of which remain on the books today, imposed conditions such as these:

- A charter was granted for a limited time.
- Corporations were explicitly chartered for the purpose of serving the public interest - profit for shareholders was the means to that end.
- Corporations could engage only in activities necessary to fulfill their chartered purpose.
- Corporations could be terminated if they exceeded their authority or if they caused public harm.
- Owners and managers were responsible for criminal acts they committed on the job.
- Corporations could not make any political contributions, nor spend money to influence legislation.
- A corporation could not purchase or own stock in other corporations, nor own any property other than that necessary to fulfill its chartered purpose."


Then things changed

- Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad (1886)
"One of the most severe blows to citizen authority was seeded in the 1886 Supreme Court case of Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railroad.
Though the court did not make a ruling on the question of "corporate personhood", thanks to misleading notes of a clerk, the decision subsequently was used as precedent to hold that a private corporation was a natural person.
This meant that the 14th Amendment, enacted to protect rights of freed slaves, (could be) used to grant corporations Constitutional rights. Justices have since struck down hundreds of local, state and federal laws enacted to protect people from corporate harm based on this illegitimate premise."

- Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad v. Beckwith (1889)
"Supreme Court rules a corporation is a "person" for both due process and equal protection."

"Of the 14th Amendment cases brought before the Supreme Court between 1890 and 1910, 19 dealt with African Americans, 288 dealt with corporations."

"Today, many U.S. corporations are transnational, but the corrupted charter remains the legal basis for their existence. A new generation of American patriots is learning this hidden history and recognizing that it contains many keys to successful action today."

source: Reclaim Democracy
http://reclaimdemocracy.org/
Corporate History Primer
http://reclaimdemocracy.org/pdf/primers/hidden_corporate_history.pdf
Timeline of Personhood Rights and Powers
http://reclaimdemocracy.org/personhood/personhood_timeline.pdf


"..These state laws, many of which remain on the books today.."

Also see the documentary "The Corporation" (www.thecorporation.com) for more on the history and the impacts of corporations, and a few examples of succesful use of "these state laws" in civil action to limit the power of corporations.

[OneBlueSky]

44. good post, rman . . . thanx . . . n/t

.

[lateo]

36. Excellent post!

And full of wonderful links and quotes...

[InvisibleBallots]

37. great post

I love these sort of "catalog" posts, I can easily save or bookmark them :)

[sadiesworld]

38. .

[welshTerrier2]

39. There is only one issue !!

the following is an excerpt from a post I made a few weeks ago:

There is only ONE ISSUE ... that's it ... I know, you probably can think of many, many more ... but the truth is, there's only one that makes any difference ... and what is THE ISSUE? the issue is that we have lost our democracy ... virtually every significant policy coming out of Washington, both foreign and domestic, is chosen to protect the financial interests of the super-wealthy and their multi-national corporations ... who do you think it is who is whispering in your Congressman's ear? foreign policy is an extension of mega-corporations' security and sales departments ... "if you buy products from Halliburton and Bechtel, we'll wipe out your Sunni opposition" ... "if you allow Halliburton to handle the "re-construction" (after we destroy everything) and run the oil processes, we'll spare your Shi'ite territories in Southern Iraq (fyi, Sistani has been bought and paid for)" ... lobbyists for the pharmaceutical industry wrote the Medicare bill ... they, and the HMO's, made millions in windfall profits ... all this was done at the expense of average Americans ... our government no longer acts in the interests of the country or its citizens; it acts only in the interests of the wealthiest citizens and their corporations ... without power, your laundry list of issues is nothing but a game of "pretend" ... the battle, my friends, is nothing less than a battle for the survival of our democracy ... that's the master theme ... we either have a voice or we don't ...

For those reading this, especially those who label themselves as moderates, I ask you to let me know whether you see this as extremist, left wing, nonsense that will alienate people in the red states or whether this is a position that you think transcends the left-right debate and affects every American that believes our government should always act in the best interests of the country and not just a privileged few ...

i think it's very important to develop the correct "language" and begin to educate the American people on the inequities we see surrounding this issue ... i do not think that we can start off saying we are "anti-corporation" ... the problem with this is that we are easily labelled as anti-business ... a better approach would be to focus on lobbyists ... Americans don't like hired guns buying off their representatives ... so we make "lobbyists" the bad guys and we cite issue after issue after issue where benefits went to special interests over the best interests of the American people ...

this campaign to restore democracy cannot happen overnight ... it needs to be built, like any other education curriculum, in a series of small, logical, sequential steps ... reaching too far damages our credibility ... the process of education needs a very detailed, well thought out implementation plan ... and once the plan is created, it needs to be referenced by each and every democratic spokesperson each and every day ...

there really is only one issue and so far, most in the Democratic Party have been afraid to even whisper its name ... and in failing to tell Americans the truth and fight the only battle that needs fighting, we continue to be a minority party ... some are blaming the left; i am blaming the cowards ...

[ruggerson]

40. In the same way Reagan demonized "Big Government"

We have to begin demonizing "Big Corporations."

"Big Corporations" threaten the American way of life.
"Big Corporations" threaten democracy and freedom in a republic.
"Big Corporations" are anti-liberty.
"Big Corporations" steal the money in your wallet just as adeptly as big government does.

Why doesn't a savvy Dem politician start with the banking industry. I would imagine that a Democrat challenging the usurious interest rates charged by credit card companies would be a move WILDLY popular with the average red state citizen.

The overriding theme of "Big Corporations" ties in to so many issues: the environment, healthcare, taxes, etc.

We can win not only the White House back, but Congress too. This issue has to be thoroughly mined, the language has to be sharpened, and then the message has to be repeated by EVERYONE.

The Democratic party, when it wins, historically is the party of economic populism. Let's go back to our roots.

[ruggerson]

41. KICK

And this should stay kicked

[OneBlueSky]

42. I think it's noteworthy that so many of our greatest presidents . . .

are unanimous in their concern about the rise of the corporation and big money within the government . . . they span the entire history of our nation, from Jefferson to Eisenhower . . . these kinds of quotations could be used effectively in whatever marketing plan is devised to put this concept across to the American people . . .

[LiberalAndProud]

45. Thanks.

Note my sig.

[sadiesworld]

46. Another kick!

[nascarblue]

47. Nice, I live close to one of those examples....NT

[Imperialism Inc.]

50. Another quote.

Again from Chomsky. This one incorporates the ideas and even some of the words of the American philosopher John Dewey:

Politics is the shadow cast on society by big business. As long as that is so, the attenuation of the shadow will not change the substance. Democracy requires that the shadow of big business simply be removed so that the political system can function. The very institutions of private power undermine freedom and democracy. It resides in control of the means of production, exchange, publicity, transportation, and communication. Whoever owns them owns the life of the country, even if operating under democratic forms: business for private profit through private control of banking at the command of industry, reinforced by the press agents and other means of publicity and propaganda. That is the system of actual power, the source of coercion and unless it is unraveled we cannot begin to seriously talk about democracy or freedom. In a free and democratic society, workers have to be masters of their own industrial fate. It is illiberal and immoral to train children to work for the sake of the wage earned, not freely and intelligently under their own control. Hence industry must be changed if democracy is to exist. It must be changed from a feudalistic to a democratic social order.