Ending Corporate Rule
Modern corporations trace their origins to the trading companies of imperial Europe more than three centuries ago. Their rise in power and influence has been a steady trajectory to the point where today they are the dominant institution in society. Governments have freed corporations from legal constraints through deregulation, and granted them even greater power through privatization. The Supreme Court has declared corporations are people and money is free speech. The latter has turned Congress into, as one commentator put it, “a forum for legalized bribery.” Many citizens feel that pleading to corporations is insufficient and that it is time to examine the nature of this artificial institution. Endless single-issue crisis-based activism, one grievance at a time does not address the core problem, which is the corporation itself. Is ending corporate rule an obtainable goal? How would it happen?
Speaker
Paul Cienfuegos
Paul Cienfuegos is a national leader in the Community Rights movement, which works to dismantle corporate constitutional so-called “rights” and assert the people’s inherent right to self-government. He founded Democracy Unlimited of Humboldt County in 1995, co-founded Oregon Community Rights Network in 2013, and co-founded Community Rights US in 2017. More info at www.CommunityRights.US.
Andrew Squicciarini –
Enjoyed speech on NPR, however he gives a supposed quote of James Madison ” The primary role of govt. is to protect the minority of the opulent against the majority” After researching this, I find the way he worded it highly inaccurate. Madison never said the “primary role”. The actual quote is: “… In England, at this day, if elections were open to all classes of people, the property of the landed proprietors would be insecure. An agrarian law would soon take place. If these observations be just, our government ought to secure the permanent interests of the country against innovation. Landholders ought to have a share in the government, to support these invaluable interests, and to balance and check the other. They ought to be so constituted as to protect the minority of the opulent against the majority. The senate, therefore, ought to be this body; and to answer these purposes…”
This has an entirely different meaning than what Cienfuegos implies.
A.S.
Stamford, NY
Susan Williams –
I tuned in to Cienfuegos’ talk on my car radio and just sat in a parking lot listening to KLCC until the bitter end. His clear, calm speaking style and hard-hitting message that WE THE PEOPLE must use our power locally to make our own policies rather than let ourselves be dominated by wealthy minorities (corporations) was just so well-conceived and presented. I want everyone I know and trust to hear it, and I’m here at Alternative Radio to purchase my own copy. Devastatingly on target!
Byron –
what a wonderful speech! This must be heard by all those who believe in their communities and their country. Paul has it right on in this inspirational lecture.
Kathryn –
Thank you Paul Cienfuegos. You are a bright light focusing on what we collectively need to be focusing on now. Coming together as the 99% to make decisions together about what we do want. Corporations are not people…and it makes no sense that these corporate bully behaviours have legal support to diminish our property, environment, economy, wellbeing and more until there is nothing left to fight for but our lives. No More corporate personhood! What to do when one town votes to keep a Nuclear Reactor….because their livlihoods are based on the income from working at the reactor….and some of the money has been used to do good in the town even though the risks outweigh logic and thousands of people in the surrounding areas want to live nuclear free? On the path of unity and occupying democracy.. Thank you for pointing in the direction of hope….KD
Lynn Wright –
I listened to his lecture and it was absolutely captivating. He gave me the missing piece I need for my Patriotic Manifesto. Like Cienfuegos, I have been trying to figure out how to unite everyone while the corporations are trying to divide us. However, I was saying we need to call our Legislators and Cienfuegos has a much better idea. I will buy his CD, because it is a “how to” unite everyone for the same common cause.