A survey conducted in Northern California's Humboldt County showed that only 35% of voting-age residents were familiar with the concept of "corporate personhood," and that those who were were much more critical of corporations, according to a press release[1] of Democracy Unlimited of Humboldt County that was the basis of an article in the Eureka Reporter[2] a few days later. -- Detailed poll findings showed that 85%, 91%, and 87% of those polled believed that corporations should not have constitutional protections that outweigh environmental, labor, or small business protections, respectively. -- "Corporate personhood" will be a key concept in Digging Deeper V, a UFPPC study circle on the corporation that begins on May 16 in Tacoma....
1.
Press Release
SURVEY SAYS: YES TO LOCAL DEMOCRACY, NO TO CORPORATE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS
Democracy Unlimited of Humboldt County
March 30, 2005
http://www.duhc.org/Survey.html
EUREKA -- Humboldt State University students do not merely add dollars to the local economy. They can also significantly add to our understanding of our community. On Wednesday March 30, HSU graduate student Adrian Chevraux-Fitzhugh did just that, announcing the preliminary results of a comprehensive county-wide telephone survey designed to determine what Humboldt residents think about corporations.
Corporate spokespersons, governmental agencies, and non-profit groups frequently make claims concerning public opinion on various matters impacting this area. My research is an effort to ask the people themselves what they really think about the role of corporations in Humboldt County, said Chevraux-Fitzhugh.
The information was collected using a scientifically random sample of voting age citizens last fall. The results demonstrated that Humboldt residents definitely support business, but are adamantly opposed to corporations participating in elections. Over 80% believe that corporations should not have the ability to claim constitutional rights that outweigh small business, environmental or labor protections.
Only 35% of respondents were familiar with the concept of corporate personhood, which is the legal doctrine that allows corporations to claim the same constitutional rights of human beings. Those that were aware of the corporate personhood concept were much more critical of corporations.
Chevraux-Fitzhugh worked with Democracy Unlimited of Humboldt County (DUHC), a Eureka-based non-profit organization that educates citizens about the history of corporations and democracy in the United States. At DUHC we have long-claimed that unelected and unaccountable corporate CEOs are literally making fundamental public policy decisions regarding the most basic aspects of our lives, said Outreach Coordinator Hannah Clapsadle. It is especially gratifying to learn that the majority of Humboldt citizens share our concern about corporate participation in politics, she said.
A significant majority opposes allowing corporations to participate in local elections. Over 3/4 of the respondents felt that corporate contributions made political corruption more likely, added Chevraux-Fitzhugh.
These results are telling, said Clapsadle. Folks clearly favor protecting the environment, labor and local business. But they are mostly unaware of the fact that activist judges have illegitimately granted corporations powers that hinder our ability to do just that. Meaningful regulation is largely impossible if corporations are considered to have constitutional rights.
Democracy Unlimiteds next workshop will be held on April 16, and their next open-to-the public meeting will be held on April 21. Both events will be at their offices located at 1402 M Street in Eureka. Call 269-0984 for details.
2.
DEMOCRACY UNLIMITED SAYS VOTING-AGE RESIDENTS ADD TO LOCAL ECONOMY
Eureka Reporter (Eureka, CA)
April 4, 2005
http://www.eurekareporter.com/Stories/fp-04040501.htm
HSU graduate student Adrian Chevraux-Fitzhugh recently announced the preliminary results of what he said is a comprehensive countywide telephone survey designed to determine what Humboldt County residents think about corporations.
Corporate spokespersons, governmental agencies and nonprofit groups frequently make claims concerning public opinion on various matters impacting this area, he said. My research is an effort to ask the people themselves what they really think about the role of corporations in Humboldt County.
The information was collected using a scientifically random sample of voting-age residents last fall, Chevraux-Fitzhugh said.
The results demonstrated that Humboldt residents definitely support business, but are adamantly opposed to corporations participating in elections, he said. Over 80 percent believe that corporations should not have the ability to claim constitutional rights that outweigh small business, environmental or labor protections.
He said that 35 percent of respondents were familiar with the concept of corporate personhood, which, he said, is the legal doctrine that allows corporations to claim the same constitutional rights as people.
Those who were aware of the corporate personhood concept were much more critical of corporations, according to a Democracy Unlimited of Humboldt County news release.
Chevraux-Fitzhugh worked with DUHC, which said it is a Eureka-based nonprofit organization that educates community residents about the history of corporations and democracy in the United States.
At DUHC we have long claimed that unelected and unaccountable corporate CEOs are literally making fundamental public policy decisions regarding the most basic aspects of our lives, said Outreach Coordinator Hannah Clapsadle. It is especially gratifying to learn that the majority of Humboldt citizens share our concern about corporate participation in politics.
A significant majority opposes allowing corporations to participate in local elections, according to a DUHC news release.
Over three-quarters of the respondents felt that corporate contributions made political corruption more likely, Chevraux-Fitzhugh said.
These results are telling, Clapsadle said. Folks clearly favor protecting the environment, labor and local business. But they are mostly unaware of the fact that activist judges have illegitimately granted corporations powers that hinder our ability to do just that. Meaningful regulation is largely impossible if corporations are considered to have constitutional rights.
Democracy Unlimiteds next workshop will be held on April 16, and its next open-to-the public meeting will be held on April 21. Both events will be at its office located at 1402 M St. in Eureka. Phone (707) 269-0984 for details.
For further survey results, visit Democracy Unlimiteds Web site at www.DUHC.org.