How Corporations Became People and How You Can Fight Back

By Zephyr Teachout

Corporations are not people. They are legal fictions created by the state to serve the interests of the wealthy and powerful. But over time, corporations have gained more and more rights and privileges, while the rights of individuals have been eroded. In this book, legal scholar Zephyr Teachout explains how this happened and what we can do to fight back.

Unequal Protection: How Corporations Became "People"—and How You Can Fight Back

by Thom Hartmann

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4362 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	385 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

Teachout argues that the concept of corporate personhood is a relatively new one. In the early days of American history, corporations were seen as mere creatures of the state, with no rights or privileges beyond those granted to them by their charters. But in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a series of Supreme Court decisions began to grant corporations more and more rights, including the right to free speech, the right to equal protection under the law, and the right to due process.

These decisions were based on the idea that corporations are "artificial persons" that are entitled to the same rights as natural persons. But Teachout argues that this is a flawed analogy. Corporations are not like people. They are not born, they do not die, and they do not have families or friends. They are simply legal fictions created to serve the interests of their owners.

The rise of corporate personhood has had a number of negative consequences for democracy. Corporations have used their newfound rights to lobby for laws that benefit their own interests, even if those laws harm the public interest. They have also used their money to influence elections and to silence their critics.

But Teachout argues that we can fight back against the rise of corporate personhood. We can pass laws that limit the rights of corporations, and we can support candidates who are committed to protecting the rights of individuals. We can also boycott companies that are engaged in harmful practices, and we can speak out against the influence of corporations in our democracy.

How to Fight Back

Teachout offers a number of specific suggestions for how we can fight back against the rise of corporate personhood. These include:

• Pass laws that limit the rights of corporations. We can pass laws that overturn the Supreme Court decisions that granted corporations the right to free speech, the right to equal protection under the law, and the right to due process. We can also pass laws that limit the amount of money that corporations can spend on lobbying and elections.
• Support candidates who are committed to protecting the rights of individuals. When we vote, we should support candidates who are committed to fighting against the influence of corporations in our democracy. We should also support candidates who are committed to passing laws that protect the rights of individuals.
• Boycott companies that are engaged in harmful practices. We can use our consumer power to fight back against corporations that are engaged in harmful practices. We can boycott companies that pollute the environment, exploit their workers, or sell dangerous products.
• Speak out against the influence of corporations in our democracy. We can speak out against the influence of corporations in our democracy by writing letters to our elected officials, by participating in protests, and by supporting organizations that are fighting to protect the rights of individuals.

By taking these steps, we can fight back against the rise of corporate personhood and protect our democracy.

Corporations are not people. They are legal fictions created by the state to serve the interests of the wealthy and powerful. But over time, corporations have gained more and more rights and privileges, while the rights of individuals have been eroded. In this book, legal scholar Zephyr Teachout explains how this happened and what we can do to fight back. Teachout offers a number of specific suggestions for how we can limit the rights of corporations, support candidates who are committed to protecting the rights of individuals, boycott companies that are engaged in harmful practices, and speak out against the influence of corporations in our democracy. By taking these steps, we can fight back against the rise of corporate personhood and protect our democracy.

Unequal Protection: How Corporations Became "People"—and How You Can Fight Back

by Thom Hartmann

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4362 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	385 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE