WHAT'S NEXT

The Portland Maine City Council: Adopt a resolution to oppose corporate personhood
  1. Signatures
    197 out of 200
    Petitioning
    1. The Portland Maine City Council
  2. Created By
    Will Gattis
    Falmouth, ME
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates
How We Won

Jan 19, 2012

On January 18, the Portland City Council passed a resolution urging a constitutional amendment banning corporate personhood and allowing the regulation of political contributions.

Check out the Bangor Daily News for more details: http://bangordailynews.com/2012/01/18/news/portland/portland-council-throws-its-weight-behind-corporate-personhood-abolishment/

Corporations are not people, and money is not speech. But thanks to a backwards decision by the United States Supreme Court that overturned decades of established legal precedent, corporations now have the same rights as flesh and blood human beings. Worse, their money is considered "political speech," invalidating many of the laws that keep American elections from drowning in a sea of corporate donations.

Taken together, these facts mean that corporations have free rein to pollute America's political process with corporate cash and influence-peddling -- at the expense of the political voices of real citizens like you and me.

Thankfully, we're not left totally powerless in this situation. A constitutional amendment can reduce corporate influence in politics and put power back in the hands of people who aren't mega-rich. Cities like Los Angeles and New York have passed resolutions calling on Congress to amend the constitution to re-establish two simple principles: 1. That corporations are not entitled to the same rights as United States citizens , and 2. That financial contributions to political candidates are not "free speech."

If enough of us around the country demand it -- in every small town, big city, and state -- we'll build a big enough national consensus to amend the constitution to restore the balance of power between the citizens of the United States and corporations. Real change starts with each and every one of us. Please sign my petition asking the members of the Portland, Maine City Council to call on Congress to amend the Constitution to eliminate "corporate personhood."

Thank you.

Why People Are Signing
Recent Signatures

Corporations Are Not People

Dear Portland City Council:

Two years ago, the United States Supreme Court handed down a decision that deeply damaged American civic life, and I'm calling on you to be a part of the solution.

The Citizens United decision opened the political process at every level to huge sums of corporate money and influence, potentially drowning out the voices of American citizens -- and your constituents.

I ask that you stand up for me and my neighbors against increasing corporate power. Pass a resolution calling on Congress to amend the Constitution of the United States to establish that corporations don't have the same rights as people and that money is not speech.

Sincerely,

[Your name]

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