It’s official. We live in a Corporatocracy. The recent 5 to 4 Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. FEC is a dangerous expansion of `corporate personhood.’ I haven’t seen any convincing evidence supporting the ruling. I see no benefit from (and large problems with) the expansions of the already questionable doctrine of corporate personhood. There is a reason that there have historically been limits placed on the `rights’ of corporations. I highly recommend reading Stevens dissenting opinion for an excellent (and well sourced) history of this concept. Stevens’ opinion is the most convincing argument I have seen on the subject. Basically, any corporate `rights’ are simply a convenience granted by the legislature (on behalf of the people), and are distinct from the inherent rights of citizens. Since corporations are not citizens, corporate `speech’ can be limited to avoid corruption.
Since there are already so many loopholes, this ruling may not make much of a practical difference. But, still, it is a dangerous continuation of `corporate personhood’ toward corporate sovereignty.
Suggested reading:
- Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute)
- Supreme Court Rips Up Campaign Finance Laws (NPR)
- What Is the First Amendment For? by Stanley Fish (NYTimes)
- Paul Szep
- Slowpoke
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