Corporations Are Not People: Reclaiming Democracy from Big Money and Global Corporations

by Jeffrey D. Clements, Bill Moyers (Foreword)

A revised and updated edition of the definitive guide to overturning Citizens United.   Since the Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling that the rights of things—money and corporations—matter more than the rights of people, America has faced a crisis of democracy. In this timely and thoroughly updated second edition, Jeff Clements describes the strange history of this bizarre ruling, its ongoing destructive effects, and the growing movement to reverse it.    He includes a new chapter, “Do Something!,” showing how—state by state and community by community—Americans are using creative strategies and tools to renew democracy and curb unbalanced corporate power. Since the first edition, sixteen states, one-hundred-sixty members of Congress, and five hundred cities and towns have called for a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United, and the list is growing. This is a fight we can win!   “More relevant than ever, this updated edition of Corporations Are Not People chronicles the remarkably vibrant, nationwide grassroots movement to ‘get money out and voters in.’” —Katrina vanden Heuvel, Editor and Publisher, The Nation

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Business

273 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Brent Soderstrum · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book through GoodReads First Read program. This is actually the second edition.

I am an attorney and a right wing conservative so I began this book with apprehension thinking it would be a left-wing attack on the Supreme Court's decision in 2010 of Citizen United v. FEC. Even though there were some things I disagreed with I thought Clements' argument was pretty convincing. My thoughts at first were "What about Unions? They have the same opportunities as corporations." Clements addresses this.

I was also intrigued by Justice Lewis Powell's involvement in the eventual change to a corporation having a voice. His involvement with the cigarette industry was something I was unaware of. Even though I am anti-big government the cigarette industry is a good example of why the government needed to get involved.

I wish Clements gave more information on the other Justices who voted with the majority. He gives early Rehnquist quotes about a corporation not having a voice yet never discusses why he later agreed with Powell and the majority.

Also even though it is stated, it is done so in an off-hand way, the decision did not allow corporations to pour unlimited money to particular candidate's campaign. It merely allows them to do whatever advertising the corporation wants to regarding an issue or candidate.

Finally, I think the problem is with our political representatives, not the corporations. We need term limits. That would go to prevent the buying of votes which takes place. Advertising to me is overrated. I don't vote based on political campaign ads. Holding the voters responsible and those that they elect is not discussed. Merely that because corporations pour money into advertising to get their (those who run them) ideas across assumes that people have no independent thought and will vote based on the most advertising they see, not on what the content of the advertising is.

[Marion · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Supreme Court's ruling on Citizens United is a democracy destroyer. The decision cemented the concept of corporate personhood and gave corporations the same free speech rights as human beings (the same rights as 'we the people'...) allowing unlimited mega contributions of "Dark Money" from corporations and anonymous mega doners to political campaigns. Corporations are not people, they are legal entities which do not qualify for rights of free speech. However, since the Citizen's United decision, 80% of campaign contributions have come from 0.5% of the population. The Citizens United ruling invalidated decades of state and federal laws that regulated financial contributions to political campaigns. And, the voice of 'we the people' has been drowned out by money and the power.

Clements provides great background history of how the erroneous idea of corporate personhood was "created" in response to legislation dealing with the environment after the first celebration of Earth Day. The creation of the EPA, legislation limiting corporate pollution of air, water, etc. interfered with corporate profits. To fight this type of legislation Justice Lewis Powell began a campaign on behalf of corporations working with the U.S. Chamber of commerce. A Litigation Dept. was created to represent corporations and insure that their interests were not interfered with by legislation that was designed to protect the health of the environment and/or the health of human beings.

Clements calls for the overturning of Citizens United with the creation of a 28th Amendment. This certainly is not a strategy without precedent. Seven of the seventeen amendments since the Bill of Rights have overturned Supreme Court rulings. In addition, he calls for reform of corporate charters to create corporations that are forces for social responsibility and the betterment of our democracy.

The book also provides contact information for the many organizations working on this issue nation wide and also provides clear and simple steps that can be taken by individuals who care about preserving our democracy in this age of "the best democracy that money can buy."

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

In education, we have a phrase, 'making thinking visible.' This book makes the reality behind American governance visible. It explains how the people of the United States are no longer in charge of their destiny. Corporations are. Entire infrastructures were set up to make that happen and keep it that way. The author has suggestions of how this can be fixed. I appreciate his insight and can-do leadership. This book made me realize what an uphill fight we are facing. Can the people of the United States reclaim their power? We'll see.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book does a great job of tying together events that are well known and linking them to a specific Supreme Court ruling. I've been in favor of this kind of advocacy for a long time and fully believe that if nothing is done about corporate power in America, it will be this country's downfall.

[Gerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cementing the power of corporations over people in America.

[Constance McCutcheon]

Very good, very important.

[Glenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

An important analysis of Citizens United and why it’s so difficult to overturn it and prioritize people over corporations.

[Mathew Ruberg · Rating 2 out of 5]

we get it Jeffrey. could have left it with the title. I was happy at the beginning to see an explanation of how we got where we are now - sometimes this crazy seemingly doomed, wild & crazy world we live in makes a lot of sense once someone just shows you the path we took to get here.

but no, it is just a cursory overview before dropping millions of study snippets with the goal of getting everyone frothing at the mouth. the problem is the only difference at the end is the froth, we aren't even given a suggestion for the next turn in our path

[Bruce Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! This is a must read for anyone who has any hope that democracy might prevail in the never ending battle with multinational corporations. It might even change the opinions of some on the right - then again I might be dreaming.

[Janet Ritter · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to understand the turn our politics have taken in the last few decades and why you should be worried about the validity of your vote, this book is a must-read. Jeff Clements did a wonderful job breaking down the elements, events, and corruption that has watered down our vote and election process.