[GPSCC-chat] resolution supporting a 28th Constitutional Amendment

[Rob Means]

Hi Folks,

Do you agree that big money and powerful corporations have control of
our democracy, that we actually have an oligarchy as Jimmy Carter
recently named it?  If so, then the Green Party of Santa Clara County
can help turn things around. Attached and below is a resolution that
calls for a "We The People" Constitutional Amendment. In essence, it
says money is not speech and corporations are not people. 

Although I would like to attend your next meeting on Nov. 19, I have a
previous commitment. So, please review the wording of the resolution and
make any suggested changes to this discussion group. Hopefully, the
wording can be finalized before the next meeting so that passage is
assured. 
--
RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING AS A POSITION OF THE GREEN PARTY OF SANTA CLARA
COUNTY THAT 1) ONLY HUMAN BEINGS HAVE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS, 2) MONEY IS
NOT SPEECH, AND 3) WE CALL FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO ESTABLISH
THAT POSITION. 

WHEREAS, the people's right to free speech and fair elections are
essential to democracy and effective self-governance; however, U.S.
Supreme Court decisions have granted multi-billion dollar corporations
and other artificial entities the same rights as natural persons to
unrestricted spending on political speech, thus severely restricting the
ability of federal, state and local governments to enact reasonable
campaign finance reforms and regulations regarding corporate political
activity; and

WHEREAS, the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights are
intended to protect the rights of human beings – not artificial entities
such as corporations which have special advantages not enjoyed by human
beings plus the many traditional and necessary rights and powers
provided for by state law, and usually put profits for shareholders
ahead of concerns for the greater good of society – but the U.S. Supreme
Court decisions extending constitutional rights to corporations have
resulted in increasing domination by these powerful entities and a
corresponding loss of rights for people; and

WHEREAS, sixteen states and more than 550 local governments throughout
our country have passed resolutions or ballot initiatives calling for a
constitutional amendment establishing that corporations should not have
constitutional rights and money does not equal speech, and the people of
the United States have previously used the constitutional amendment
process to correct decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court that are widely
deemed to be egregious, wrongly decided or significantly out-of-step
with the prevailing values of the populace;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that it is the position of the GREEN
PARTY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY that A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IS NEEDED TO
ESTABLISH THAT 

     1. The rights protected by the Constitution of the United States
        are the rights of natural persons only, and that artificial
        entities, such as corporations, limited liability companies, and
        other entities, established by the laws of any State, the United
        States, or any foreign state shall have no rights under this
        Constitution and are subject to regulation by the People,
        through Federal, State, or local law.
     2. Federal, State and local government shall have the right to
        regulate, limit, or prohibit contributions and expenditures,
        including a candidate’s own contributions and expenditures, for
        the purpose of influencing in any way the election of any
        candidate for public office or any ballot measure, and shall
        require that any permissible contributions and expenditures be
        publicly disclosed.
        

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the GREEN PARTY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY calls
on other organizations and associations to join with us in this action
by passing a similar Resolution.

-- 
Rob Means, Education Work Group, Chairman
Santa Clara County MoveToAmend, http://scc-mta.org/
1421 Yellowstone Ave., Milpitas, CA 95035-6913
408-262-0420h, 408-262-8975w, Rob at MeansForDemocracy.org
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