Getting corporations out of politics...I was asked to sign a petition

[OnionPatch]

outside of the local grocery store yesterday to support an initiative that would make it unlawful for corporations to contribute and so on to politicians without the express consent of the shareholders. There was more but I didn't have time to read it all. I was a little worried: this is a very red area. The GOP is active around here and often disguises their activity by whitewashing it with a real concern. I haven't heard of this initiative but I have been busy this summer without as much time to keep up on all things political.
Does anyone have any idea what this might have been about and whether or not it is something I should have signed?
Thanks for any info anyone has.

[BlueEyedSon]

1. We have to get the MONEY out of politics.

Otherwise the corporations would just scam and use individuals as proxies.

Not to mention that kicking out the Corporations still would allow wealthy individuals to buy politicians.

[ironman202]

2. My first act, after being elected King of the Earth will be

to abolish corporations altogether...nothing but a legal fiction devised to protect profit and limit liability...You want to own shares in a company, fine. But you're fucking personally responsible for the actions of that company.

[Initech]

8. That's exactly why I dont invest in the stock market

Too much corruption.

[Trillo]

3. Consent of shareholders?

So the larger shareholders get to decide for the smaller shareholders? What about common versus preferred shares, where the one of the latter might be equal to a million of the former?

Don't have any specific information in regards to your question.

[kcass1954]

4. How about NO corporate money... NONE... PERIOD.

If the shareholders would like to donate individually, they are free to do so, subject to federal limits. A large part of what's wrong in this country is that the politicians - from both sides of the aisle -accept corporate dollars, and then vote for things that benefit the corporations, not the individual citizens.

[Trillo]

5. No disagreement there.

The largest shareholders are likely other corporations. Therefore, allowing shareholders to decide is putting the fox in charge of the chicken coup.

The OPs question had to do with a possible mechanism in the petition she/he was considering whether to sign, so I offered one which gives to the richest the decision making power over the poorest. It's a very old game.

[cascadiance]

6. At least perhaps this could bring a "corporate personhood" challenge!

I'd love another supreme court case be heard that would challenge the rights of corporate personhood which is fundamentally the reason why we are faced with this question. Especially if it could be done right now before we approve Roberts. Perhaps if this issue is brought to light to the general public (and force the conservative jurists into a similar "hobson's choice" of not supporting judical activism much like the progressive jurists were put in a similar choice when the eminent domain question came up a few weeks ago).

Doubtful that this petition could trigger a case to advance through the courts so quickly to get to it before decision on Roberts can be made, but perhaps there are other cases out there that could do something similar and leverage this petition to show public support for removing "corporate personhood".

[Freddie Stubbs]

7. Did it also include unions?

There have been similar measures in other states which would ban both (don't assume that it isn't in there just becasue the signature gatherer didn't tell you about it).

[Amy6627]

9. I have not heard of this, but there is one that would require Unions

to have written consent from members before any political contributions are made. Maybe the one you saw was a counter to that one.

I think banning all non-voting entities from participating in our election system would be great! Although the Supreme Court has ruled (Buckley vs. Vallajo) that Corporations being "persons" have the right under the 1st Amendment (see: http://www.ftcr.org/citizen/nw/nw001323.php3 )

Also check out this short video on what can be done: http://www.caclean.org/materials/watch.php

Clean elections are working now in AZ and Maine.