Reply #12: I wrote them and said... [View All]

[punpirate]

... I'd be happy to support them, if they would withdraw from the case supporting 1st amendment rights for corporations. I gave them a detailed explanation of why corporations (artificial persons) were not entitled to the same rights as natural persons, and I got a somewhat condescending answer, saying, in essence, our position on this is on our website and you can read it there.

I have read their position and believe it to be contrary to the rights of citizens under the Constitution--that's why I wrote them in the first place. I can't throw money into a pot for those uses. Working to establish greater human rights for corporations furthers precisely the single greatest problem in this country today--the power of corporations to influence all aspects of life in this country--our political representation, our livelihoods, our foreign policy and domestic concerns.

If you wish to give to the ACLU, I would hope that you first insist that the ACLU give some regard for the basis of the Constitution as stated in its Preamble. It is written on behalf of "we, the people," not "we, the corporations." It was a serious mistake for the ACLU to engage in the Nike/free speech suit in California on behalf of Nike, and I suspect that it did so at the behest of its corporate sponsors.

Just a reminder that the ACLU uses some of that money you give to fight for Nike's right to evade truth in advertising laws. Nike believes that it has the right to say anything it pleases about its relationship to the Asian sweatshops making its shoes, because it has a First Amendment right to free speech. The ACLU supports Nike's contention.

Cheers.