ADVISORY MEASURE ON
DEMOCRACY AND CORPORATIONS
CITY OF ARCATA, CALIFORNIA
(Activists in Arcata are helping push the following measure.
For more information contact PO Box 27 Arcata CA 95518. If you
have further questions - or ideas on how you can help - phone
them at 707-822-2242 or email them at cienfuegos@igc.org . Their
web address is www.monitor.net/duhc).
The people of the city of Arcata do ordain as follows:
WHEREAS, The U.S. Constitution establishes the principle that
"We the People" hold sovereign power to govern ourselves;
WHEREAS, Historically in this nation, corporations were created
to be and were regarded as artificial entities, chartered only
to serve the public interest, cause no harm, and at all times
be subordinate to the sovereign people;
WHEREAS, The California Constitution of 1879 contained the
following passage (similar to many other state constitutions):
" ... the exercise of the police power of the state shall
never be so abridged or construed as to permit corporations to
conduct their business in such manner as to infringe the rights
of individuals or the general well-being of the State." (Article
Xll, Section 8);
WHEREAS, A century ago, large corporations began an effort
to transform the law and claim civil and political rights and
privileges which were intended only for real human beings under
the Constitution, including full participation in our democratic
processes (such as unlimited speeding to influence elections);
WHEREAS, Over the last century, large corporations were also
successful in removing the language in most state constitutions
(including California's) which had asserted citizen authority
over corporations;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That the people of Arcata support
the amending of the California Constitution so as to clearly declare
the authority of citizens over all corporations. To this end,
we request that our City Council co-sponsor (in cooperation with
the drafters of this Initiative) two town hall meetings in the
five months following passage of this ballot measure on the topic:
"Can we have democracy when large corporations wield so much
power and wealth under law?";
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the People of Arcata request
that the city government of Arcata immediately act to establish,
through the creation of an official committee, policies and programs
which ensure democratic control over corporations conducting business
within the city, in whatever ways are necessary to ensure the
health and well-being of our community and its environment;
AND BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, That the People of Arcata request
our city government to immediately forward copies of this ballot
measure to all of our elected representatives at the county, state,
and federal levels, and to members of the press.
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