I had the opportunity yesterday, at the BALLE conference, to hear ice cream magnate Ben Cohen, of Ben and Jerry’s fame, talking about the point of intersection where the local business movement, Occupy Wall Street and the campaign to “get the money out of politics” converge. Here’s video of his presentation, during which he unveils […]
It’s been two years since the Supreme Court decided the Citizens United case, giving corporations the ability to spend unprecedented amounts of money to influence American elections. Here, with some some thoughts on the ramifications of that decision is our favorite journalist, Chris Hedges. …Our electoral system, already hostage to corporate money and corporate lobbyists, […]
I never got around to mentioning it last week, but Democratic Senators Tom Udall, Michael Bennet, Tom Harkin, Dick Durbin, Chuck Schumer, Sheldon Whitehouse, and Jeff Merkely introduced a Constitutional amendment to reform campaign finance on Tuesday, which, if passed, would trump the Supreme Court’s Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision, which essentially made […]
Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney had the following to say to an unruly audience gathered along the campaign trail today in Iowa… “Corporations are people, my friends.” I can’t imagine that’s a message that will help him with the struggling men and women of Iowa, but maybe it’ll resonate with Tea Bagging set, who seem […]
Some local folks are starting an Ypsi/Arbor chapter of a national organization dedicated to the elimination of so-called “corporate personhood.” Their names are Reagan M. Sova and Joel Skene, and I thought that I’d take the opportunity to ask them some questions. Following is our brief, but dense conversation. MARK: So, I hear that you’re […]
