Berkeley Calls for Amendments: Money Not Speech, Corporations Not People Posted on April 29, 2010 (June 24, 2020) Democracy Amendments Berkeley, Ca., April 27, 2010 — On Tuesday evening Berkeley’s mayor and City Council voted by unanimous consent to call for amending the U.S. and California constitutions to declare that corporations are not entitled to the rights of persons and that corporate money is not free speech and to request that other communities take a similar stand. The Peace and Justice Commission prepared this Democracy Resolution in anticipation that corporate spending in elections will increase due to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling against the Federal Elections Commission in the Citizens United case. Read More
Video: Citizens United v United States Citizens Posted on April 26, 2010 (June 24, 2020) Democracy Amendments The First Amendment to the United States Constitution was designed to protect the free speech rights of people, not corporations. Guests: John Bonifaz – Director, Free Speech for People, Pam Wilmot – Director, Common Cause Massachusetts, and Senator Jamie Eldridge discuss the recent Supreme Court decision Citizens United v FEC that may have the most deleterious effect on democracy in our lifetime, weakening campaign finance laws and expanding the power of corporations. A fascinating discussion of possible legislation and a constitutional amendment are also included as avenues to protect the voice of people in their own government.Read More
Corporate Money Ruins Everything Posted on April 20, 2010 (June 23, 2020) Corporate Abuse of Power No matter what the topic, corporate money is the culprit. Here’s Harvey Wasserman speaking last night on the upcoming climate bill. He lists five things we need to do and the first is to undo corporate money in politics: Read More
Rep Paul Hodes Introduces Constitutional Amendment Posted on April 15, 2010 (June 24, 2020) Democracy Amendments Follow this amendment on Thomas for cosponsors and hearings. Proposing the `Doris `Granny D’ Haddock Amendment of 2010′ to the Constitution of the United States regarding the authority of Congress and the States to regulate the spending and activities… (Introduced in House) HJ 82 IH 111th CONGRESS 2d Session H. J. RES. 82 Read More
New Paltz Event to Take on Corporatization of Government Posted on April 15, 2010 (June 24, 2020) Democracy Amendments <Read More
Video: John Bonifaz and Laura Flanders on the Corporate Supreme Court Posted on April 15, 2010 (June 24, 2020) Democracy Amendments At the 10:22 point in this video, GRIT tv host Laura Flanders takes up the topic of the Supreme Court, corporate power, and the "Citizens United" ruling. Guest John Bonifaz, the director of Free Speech for People discusses the results we’re already seeing from that ruling, how it impacts corporations, unions, and real flesh-and-blood people, (including how it has already impacted our thinking) and what needs to be done. Read More
Corporatocracy and Its Discontents Posted on April 13, 2010 (June 24, 2020) Democracy Amendments By David Swanson Read More
The Word is Spreading Posted on April 5, 2010 (August 28, 2020) Democracy Amendments “Amend the Constitution” That is the cover title for The Progressive Magazine’s April 2010 issue. In the lead article, Matthew Rothschild, the magazine’s editor, writes: “Make no mistake about it: The [Supreme] court’s ruling in Citizens United, if left to stand, will destroy whatever hope we may ever have had of democracy in this country. Read More
Massachusetts Nurses Association Spots a New Illness Posted on April 5, 2010 (June 24, 2020) Democracy Amendments Leo Maley, Massachusetts Nurses Assoc. Associate Director, Interviews John Bonifaz, Director of Free Speech for People: Read More