democracy by dave lewit, october 7, 2009 presented at mass coalition for healthy communities...
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Corporate Personhood Nowhere in the Constitution are corporations given any rights.TRANSCRIPT
Democracy
By Dave Lewit, October 7, 2009Presented at Mass Coalition for Healthy Communities conference on Relocalization, October 18, 2009
Boston Tea Party• Bold action for
democracy. • Defying distant
corporate and government rule.
• Regional systems are already working
Corporate Personhood• Nowhere in the
Constitution are corporations given any rights.
Towns say no to corporate privilege
• Voters pass laws asserting local authority over corporations.
• Instant runoff voting (IRV) enables folks to vote their mind; encourages new parties.
Participatory Budgeting (PB) • A tradition in New
England town meetings.
• Now in big cities with big revenues.
Education and Media• Today they
domesticate. Tomorrow they could liberate.
• They could wither discrimination and corporate power
Justice• Try restorative justice,
not retribution. • Don’t let lawyers
eliminate sophisticated jurors
Globalization’s Local Impacts • Citizen trade
commissions are up and running.
Subsidiarity
• Empowerment through local decisions.
• Not top-down patronizing and fostered helplessness.
Regional Integration• United Communities.• Reform of Home Rule
law a first step.