Michael GreenmanMichael Greenman

““Citizens Intent on Reforming Citizens Intent on Reforming Corporate Accountability”Corporate Accountability”

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First Unitarian Universalist Church First Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbusof Columbus

Corporate Power steals it! Are we ready to take back our own Democracy?

Script by Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom

Cartoons by Matt Wuerker

Coca Cola & McDonalds in Coca Cola & McDonalds in SchoolsSchools

Walmart - EverywhereWalmart - Everywhere

Healthcare?Healthcare?

Jobs Going Overseas?Jobs Going Overseas?

The BeginningThe Beginning

Sacred Words!Sacred Words!

Corporation?Corporation?

In Constitution? No!In Constitution? No! Not popular with colonistsNot popular with colonists Corporations = Control by StatesCorporations = Control by States

Closest Supervision by the peopleClosest Supervision by the people Corporate Charters:Corporate Charters:

What could doWhat could do How LongHow Long With WhomWith Whom Where and WhenWhere and When

““Change is Afoot”Change is Afoot”

Corporations Gain PowerCorporations Gain Power

Santa Clara BluesSanta Clara Blues

Separate But EqualSeparate But Equal

The Amendments Keep The Amendments Keep Coming!Coming!

1893 - 5th: Due Process Protection1893 - 5th: Due Process Protection

1906 - 4th: Search and Seizure Protection1906 - 4th: Search and Seizure Protection

1925 - 1st: Freedom the Press & Speech1925 - 1st: Freedom the Press & Speech

1976 : Money = Free Speech1976 : Money = Free Speech

Equal - “Under the Law”

Most of us don’t know it!

Corporation: Legal FictionCorporation: Legal Fiction

Abstract ExistenceAbstract Existence

Added: Abstract PropertyAdded: Abstract Property Mineral RightsMineral Rights Drilling RightsDrilling Rights Air Pollution CreditsAir Pollution Credits Intellectual PropertyIntellectual Property Rights to Future ProfitsRights to Future Profits

We the People?We the People?

Globalize the OpportunityGlobalize the Opportunity

Slow “D”evolutionSlow “D”evolution

Constitutional Times:Constitutional Times: Widely reviledWidely reviled

1890:1890: Commonplace institutionCommonplace institution

2000:2000: Our invisible governmentOur invisible government

Reversing the “Wrongs”Reversing the “Wrongs”

Resistance evolves: SlaveryResistance evolves: Slavery Fundamentally wrongFundamentally wrong

AbolitionistsAbolitionists Slavery had to go!Slavery had to go!

Repeat the ProcessRepeat the Process

Wrongly givenWrongly given Started with an illegitimate Judicial ActStarted with an illegitimate Judicial Act

Wrongly retainedWrongly retained Relegates us to subhuman statusRelegates us to subhuman status

Rights turned upside downRights turned upside down They govern us:They govern us: ““CP” - has to go!CP” - has to go!

What is a “Person”?What is a “Person”?

Slavery is the Legal Fiction Slavery is the Legal Fiction that a Person is Propertythat a Person is Property

Corporate Personhood is Corporate Personhood is the Legal Fiction that the Legal Fiction that Property is a PersonProperty is a Person

In a democracy: what is sovereignty?In a democracy: what is sovereignty? ““We the PeopleWe the People” - Who is in charge?” - Who is in charge?

NO CP - What Changes?NO CP - What Changes?

1st: Prohibit Corporate Political Activity!1st: Prohibit Corporate Political Activity! 4th: Environmental protection becomes 4th: Environmental protection becomes

possiblepossible 5th, 14th: Prevent from merging, organize 5th, 14th: Prevent from merging, organize

openly, citizen sovereignty vs. corporate openly, citizen sovereignty vs. corporate governanancegovernanance

People PowerPeople Power

““Mother of all Issues”Mother of all Issues”

Activist CausesActivist Causes EnvironmentEnvironment Trade UnionsTrade Unions GlobalizationGlobalization HealthcareHealthcare EducationEducation AgricultureAgriculture Campaign Finance ReformCampaign Finance Reform MediaMedia PeacePeace Etc.!!!!Etc.!!!!

The Path ForwardThe Path Forward

Grass RootsGrass Roots Politicians won’t helpPoliticians won’t help

InformationInformation National NetworksNational Networks Local and then NationalLocal and then National

ACTION!!ACTION!!

ContactsContacts Citizens Intent on Reforming Corporate Citizens Intent on Reforming Corporate

AccountabilityAccountability www.firstuucolumbus.org/corpperswww.firstuucolumbus.org/corppers (or) circainfo.org (or) circainfo.org

Program on Corporations Law and DemocracyProgram on Corporations Law and Democracy www.poclad.orgwww.poclad.org

Reclaim DemocracyReclaim Democracy www.reclaimdemocracy.orgwww.reclaimdemocracy.org

Women’s International League for Peace and Women’s International League for Peace and FreedomFreedom www.wilpf.orgwww.wilpf.org

Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund Community Environmental Legal Defense Fund (CELDF)(CELDF) www.celdf.orgwww.celdf.org