Corporations Are NOT People!

The latest decision of the US Supreme Court to allow corporations and unions to spend as much money as they wish to influence the election process is surely judicial activism at its worst.  Corporations should not be able to use their vast financial power to drown out the voices of real people.

There are, however, several actions Progressives can take to reduce the impact of this decision.  Some of these actions are economic, others are legislative.

• Refuse to purchase the products of multi-national corporations, such as Sony or Coca-Cola or Veolia.  As consumers, we can make a difference!
• Don't patronize Wal-Mart (which single-handedly destroyed the manufacturing industry in the US) or McDonald's (fast food isn't good for you anyway).
• Turn off FOX News and other purveyors of the "greed is good" message, especially around  election time and the rotten ads appear.  Offer more support for public television.
• Take your money out of Wall Street banks and deposit it in a "main street" bank or credit union that supports local businesses. 
• Read The Corporation: The Pathological Pursuit of Profit and Power by Joel Bakan (both the book and the DVD are available at the public library), and other books about corporate power and how it was acquired.
• Talk to friends, family, and neighbors about this issue.  Form a study group to discuss "corporate personhood". 
• Post this issue on Facebook and Twitter, pointing out that corporate domination should be a greater fear than big government. 

• Make it a political issue:  support campaign finance reform!
• Support impeachment proceedings for the Supreme Court "Gang of Five".
• Support efforts to make corporations publicly accountable for the money they spend influencing elections.
• Support legislation to revive anti-trust laws and fair taxation.
• Contact both political parties and discuss why corporations are NOT the same as people and are not entitled to any protection under the First Amendment.
• Go to www.movetoamend.org/take-action for further suggestions and to find group materials.  Sign the "Motion to Amend" petition you find there and don't forget to read the article "The First American Revolution: Before Lexington and Concord". 

You will undoubtedly think of other things to do, so please let us know.  Send an email to info@ocaf-wi.org and we will share your suggestions here on our Web site. 

Large corporations have used our legal system for decades to amass enormous profits at the expense of our health, our communities, our environment, our democracy.  Let's seize the moment and put the power of the government back in the hands of the people. 

Our democracy is not for sale!

Save the Date

OCAF has slated Saturday, June 19, 2010 for their third annual Sustainability Fair.  The theme of the fair will focus on food, which again will be held at Forest Beach Migratory Preserve.

Anyone who would like to participate in the event or help with the planning should contact OCAF as soon as possible.

Additional details will be posted here as they are available.