On Citizens United, Democrats Demagogue Free Speech

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I looked on the web & asked "When did corporations become people?" As I recall, it was sneaked into part of another law. I won't take time to search it now, but I'm sure it can be repealed or nullified. We suffer greatly because it lets individuals escape punishment when their crimes are done by "a corporation." We need to fine & jail or even execute some crooks who act as part of corporations when they let mines cave in on workers, or insist on paying less wage for the same work based on gender. To comment on another part of this topic which is campaign financing by foreign powers-- we suffer much because the Vatican City State, a foreign power, has been financing Pro-Life candidates & propaganda fests for a long time. Their winning candidates have stalled embryonic stem cell research as part of using the civil power to enforce church law banning abortion & suicide. Kevorkian spent years in jail for violating church law banning suicide or attempted self-destruction. Those church laws exist to protect church income. Corpses do not tithe. If a conception is aborted, it does not have the chance to live to be a believer who will tithe and pay other church fees. Many church laws exist to generate church income. Yes, they do.

aura dawn veirs of CA 9:21PM May 05, 2010

corporations have free speech - press releases, reports to shareholders, media interviews - as much as any individual.
The constitution talks about free speech not free spending to corrupt elections with the usual inane but effective combination of big lies and name recongition that passes as electioneering. Free spending which works creates a quid pro quo with the benefitted candidates that equals corruption.
The court has sinmply said that we the people do not have the political authority to defend our elections form corruption.

zLary of NM 11:57AM May 05, 2010

Fire politicians against freedom of speech for correct reasons or ideas. It is right to stop gang for bin lad!! Where i live people do not care about others, even people that help them. Like maybe next week type people. I like helping my helpers. If gov does not recognize that if a person steal most of a welfare persons clothes or damage a house it is a 7 month job to restock for poor Gov officials gets a 600 dollar check and they buy all of the basics, dress clothes, grill, wood porch or deck. A family vehicle. they may have never experienced poverty. Lets encourage helping poverty striken. Thank you. Protest abuse in adult films. promote prolife liberals. More Anti gang funds. Rev 12:9kjv. col 3:11 kjv. rom 12:2 kjv. rom 3:23 and forgiveness.

andy tucker of IN 6:25PM May 04, 2010

Since Xerox is now a person, does it have freedom of religion? Can it send all it's employees to Hindu school because it decides to be a Hindu "person"? The employees can't really complain can they, since the company has a right to be Hindu and behave in accordance with it's private religious beliefs?
Please explain how this is not true. Either you're an individual, or you're not, and apparently, according to the "conservative" court, Xeros IS an individual.

Sam of TX 3:59PM May 04, 2010

Ok,the supreme court has now ruled that corporations, unions etc are "individuals" when it comes to the Bill of Rights.
Since the purpose of the Bill of Rights was to safeguard indivual liberty and to prevent the "tyranny of the majority" over the minority, does this mean that the Teamsters and the Xerox corporation now have the right to bear arms? If they qualify as individuals for first amendment, how could they be excluded from the rights guaranteed by the second amendment?
Can they legally stockpile weapons now? Too late for David Koresh though.

Sam of TX 3:52PM May 04, 2010

Industry and business need to be destroyed completely. We need to shift to an agrarian utopia. We will all worship Gaia at the altar of Gore. Even manual implements like hoes and shovels should be outlawed. We should all work the soil with our bare hands.

Kumbayasinging Idiot of DC 9:38AM May 04, 2010

Corporations do have "individual personhood" status.
That said, why is everyone afraid of free speech for corporations, when NGO's and other groups, such as civil liberties groups, have free speech rights?
Let EVERYONE speak, eh? It's the American way!

1st Amendment All the Way of IL 1:05AM May 04, 2010

Just because people work for and own parts of corporations does not make corporations people. The idea that it does makes no sense.

Scott of MN 11:29PM May 03, 2010

But when a corporation, union, or plutocrat can buy up all the air time in a market and saturate the airways with lies and distortions just before an election, real free speech, and free elections, are in peril.
If FEC Chairman Smith thinks that Toyota USA won't do the bidding of its corporate parent in Japan, he is either incredibly stupid or being deliberately disingenuous.
Corporations are not people and in many cases do not give one whit what happens to this country. Their only mission is to grow, not unlike a cancer. The people who work for the corporations and who own its stock are perfectly capable of contributing to and voting for candidates. The corporation itself is a soulless figment of the law.

Rich of DE 6:22PM May 03, 2010

With Rights Comes Responsibilities.
If Corporations want all the rights of a citizen, Americans need to demand capital punishment for corporations when they are guilty of capital crimes. Massey Coal should be put out of business for killing employees, instead it gets a slap on the wrist and gets increased privilege of purchasing politicians who will do their bidding. Corrupt corporations are not worthy of citizenship.
We need to be able to kill corporations that commit capital crimes, just like any citizen faces execution.

Louis of CO 5:37PM May 03, 2010