How corporations infiltrated the Supreme Court

Summary

This video explores the long-term impact of the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, which granted corporations the same free speech rights as individuals, fundamentally changing American democracy. It traces the roots of this decision back to a 1971 memo by lawyer Lewis Powell, advocating for corporate influence in politics. The video discusses how corporate interests, backed by powerful lobbying efforts, have gradually shaped political outcomes and eroded citizens' rights. It calls for action to overturn Citizens United and restore equal representation and governance to the people, aiming for a future amendment to the Constitution by the 250th anniversary of America's independence.

Takeaways

• 😀 Citizens United is a Supreme Court decision that equates campaign money with free speech, which many Americans disagree with as it has turned elections into a marketplace.
• 😀 The roots of Citizens United can be traced back to a radical corporate agenda starting in 1971, driven by Lewis Powell, who wanted to give corporations more political power.
• 😀 Powell's memo urged corporations to take active roles in lobbying, influencing legislation, and expanding corporate influence in politics.
• 😀 The concept of corporate personhood and corporate speech rights, first advocated by Powell, led to the Supreme Court granting corporations similar free speech rights as individuals.
• 😀 Lewis Powell, appointed to the Supreme Court by Richard Nixon, used his position to push for a 5-4 majority that would support corporate speech rights, drastically impacting U.S. democracy.
• 😀 The 1970s saw major social and environmental movements, but as the decades passed, corporate power increasingly overshadowed citizens' influence in politics.
• 😀 Citizens became consumers rather than active participants in democracy, with business interests taking precedence over the public good.
• 😀 In Massachusetts in the 1970s, a lawsuit by corporations like Gillette and the Bank of Boston challenged restrictions on corporate spending in state ballot initiatives, setting the stage for corporate speech rights.
• 😀 The Supreme Court's 5-4 decision in the early 1970s, which Powell wrote, granted corporations the right to spend freely on political speech, solidifying corporate influence in American politics.
• 😀 The absurdity of the concept that corporations have free speech rights is highlighted by cases like a beer company using a frog to flip off consumers and the tobacco industry's ability to advertise near schools.
• 😀 Over the past 30 years, corporate interests have used vast resources to influence elections, including state judicial elections and local political campaigns, changing the political landscape significantly.
• 😀 The movement to overturn Citizens United is growing, and there is hope that the 28th Amendment will be passed by the time of the U.S. 250th anniversary in 2026, restoring democratic rights and equal representation to citizens.

Q & A

What was the main issue discussed in the video script?

The video script primarily discusses the issue of corporate influence in American politics, focusing on the Citizens United Supreme Court decision and its impact on democracy, corporate speech rights, and the growing power of businesses in politics.

What is the Citizens United decision, and why is it significant?

The Citizens United decision is a Supreme Court ruling that declared campaign money to be a form of free speech, allowing corporations to spend unlimited money in elections. This ruling is significant because it has transformed elections into a marketplace and allowed corporate interests to dominate the political process.

How did the corporate strategy leading to Citizens United start?

The strategy began in 1971 with a memo written by Lewis Powell, a lawyer for the US Chamber of Commerce. The memo called for a corporate agenda to push for greater influence in Washington, including lobbying Congress and using the courts to create new legal rights for corporations.

Who was Lewis Powell, and what role did he play in shaping corporate rights?

Lewis Powell was a lawyer for the US Chamber of Commerce and later a Supreme Court Justice appointed by Richard Nixon. Powell's memo laid the groundwork for a legal strategy that would eventually grant corporations rights similar to those of individuals, including the right to free speech in the form of unlimited campaign contributions.

What was the impact of Powell's memo on corporate America?

Powell's memo led to the creation of a network of lobbyists, think tanks, and legal foundations that worked to push pro-business legislation and policies. It marked the beginning of a concerted effort to shift power from citizens to corporations in the political system.

What is the concept of corporate personhood, and how did it affect American law?

Corporate personhood is the legal concept that corporations have some of the same rights as individuals. This idea was first introduced in the Supreme Court after Powell's efforts and has allowed corporations to influence elections, challenge laws, and exercise free speech rights in ways that were previously not possible.

How did the Supreme Court interpret corporate free speech in the early cases?

The Supreme Court first recognized corporate free speech in a case involving corporate spending on ballot initiatives in Massachusetts in the 1970s. Powell played a pivotal role in convincing the court that corporations should have the right to spend money in the political sphere as a form of free speech.

What was the public response to the increasing power of corporations in politics?

The public response to the increasing corporate influence has been mixed. Many people are concerned about the negative impact on democracy, as evidenced by the widespread opposition to Citizens United. However, a significant portion of the population is still unaware of the long-term corporate strategies that have led to this situation.

How did public activism during the 1960s and 1970s impact American democracy?

The activism of the 1960s and 1970s, including movements for civil rights, environmental protection, and anti-war efforts, led to significant changes in American law and policy, such as the formation of the EPA, the passing of environmental laws, and the securing of voting rights. However, in the years that followed, the focus shifted away from citizen involvement, and corporate interests began to dominate political life.

What steps are suggested in the video to reverse the effects of Citizens United?

The video suggests that citizens become more actively involved in political life to challenge the influence of corporations. One proposed solution is the ratification of a 28th Amendment to restore equal citizenship and representation rights, which could help reverse the legal framework that allows corporate influence in elections.