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The following resolution was brought by the Adams-JeffCo Greens to the 2013 Annual Meeting. It was tabled for further discussion.Criminal Trials for Corporations as People Resolution:Resolution approved at Adams-JeffCo Green Party Meeting August 12, 2013:"Be it resolved that the Colorado Green Party calls on our elected Federal, State, and Local officials to indict and try corporations as criminals during the hopefully brief interval of time during which they are considered as people. Once the We The People Amendment declaring that Corporations are not people and money is not speech is passed, these measures would expire.Be it further resolved that punishment for corporations convicted in this process shall be given sentences equivalent to those given to individuals (natural persons) with an equivalent impact on the life of the corporation. As an example, a corporation convicted of murder shall be dissolved with the proceeds distributed to the community, i.e. given the death sentence."Discussion at the 2013 Colorado Greens Annual Meeting centered around two main points:Pro: if corporations were prosecuted as the people that they claim to be, that would be a deterrent to continuation of the concept of corporations as people and some corporations may even join the Move To Amend movement.Con: by even mentioning corporations as people, the resolution could give some recognition to the concept.Your thoughts, suggested modifications to the resolution, etc.
I would support this resolution on 'general principles'.One comment, though, on this statement from the resolution: "As an example, a corporation convicted of murder shall be dissolved with the proceeds distributed to the community, i.e. given the death sentence."I'm not in favor of the death penalty for human beings, so the sentence is troubling.How about this: "As an example, a corporation convicted of murder, treason, theft, etc shall be incarcerated, i.e., shall not do business, for the same number of years a human being would be incarcerated."Also, I believe the Governor of Colorado has the authority to dissolve a corporation that is not acting in the public interest, with the proceeds going to the public. (constitutional power of eminent domain)
I like the idea. The Supreme Court has already recognized corporations as people, so I wouldn't be concerned about giving recognition to that notion. As I read the resolution, I also was concerned about the “death penalty” language, as the Green Party platform opposes the death penalty for real people.Cheers,Gary
I am sorry I didn't see this and respond to it before the annual meeting. It was incredibly hard to hear Michael's presentation in that meeting (as it was Gary's).My hearing is week with lots of background noise--especially when speaker's voice and articulation are low. I would support the general gist of the resolution but would hope it included placing the offending corporation and all its assets under a government receivership as the means to carry out "capital punishment" or a subsitute to it. The Executive officers should receive high fines and jail sentences and the board of directors should be rebuilt with people who have economic credentials but not members of the 1 percent. They should receive government civil service salaries to serve on the BoD and as CEO etc. Stockholders would not be able to vote in new directors for a decade but could give a vote of no confidence to the current ones after a six year period. Corporation would be required to pay income taxes at the individual rates rather than the reduced corporate rates. I wish I could incorporate and pay corporate rate taxes.
Attached is the resolution version as passed at the State Meeting. At least some of the above comments had been communicated in other ways in time to be incorporated into the resolution.At this point in time the primary purpose is to improve awareness and promote discussion. The goal is passage of the Move To Amend version of the constitutional amendment. By adding consequences to the concept of corporate personhood, perhaps we can gain the support of some corporations.
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