Forum Post: We have a constitution to limit government power, now we need a constitution to limit corporate greed
Posted 13 years ago on Oct. 25, 2011, 7:03 p.m. EST by bourgeoiswallstreet
(38)
from Lexington, KY
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
Our nation was built on checks and balances why then do we give corporations and their wealth unlimited power? Once any entity gains enough power to infringe on the rights of others their power must be checked. We should come together and draft such a check on power in the form of a corporate constitution. It needs to be simple and elegant, one that mirrors our political constitution. We need to outline basic rights of the people and give corporations a moral framework with which they can participate in their capitalistic competition without destroying individuals and communities. Let's start writing one now.
try this first:
Here's how we can easily Reform Wall Street: Take away their powers "Once Again." And the best way to get this done is a Million People March to Capitol Hill!
For example, "We are here Congress because we want you to REINSTATE the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 http://www.investopedia.com/articles/03/071603.asp#axzz1aPEc3wX which was created to help save our country from the Great Depression by preventing investment companies, banks, and insurance companies from merging and becoming large brokerage firms; instead of just being Banks and Insurance companies -- Congress why can't you learn a history lesson from 1929? The current system doesn't work, except for the 1%, twice again. Btw, why did most of you vote for the major repeal of G-S Act in 1999? Shattering The Glass-Steagall Act: http://www.counterpunch.org/2008/09/19/shattering-the-glass-steagall-act (2nd story here)
Think about where we are now, it all started in 1999 with lawmakers like Senator Phil Gramm who helped create legal gambling casinos for our banks: CNN's The Ten Most Responsible for Economy Collapse: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKQOxr2wBZQ&feature=related
Furthermore Congress, we also want you to CHANGE the Commodities Future Modernization Act of 2000 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodity_Futures_Modernization_Act_of_2000 BACK to where it was before 2000, which since has deregulated energy markets and consequently allowed for such scams as The Enron Loophole; whereas in the early 2000's Enron Corp. was charging 250 bucks plus for a kilowatt hour...They all when to jail for this. But, the Enron loophole is still not completely closed, for example, allowing speculators to resell barrels of oil over and over again before it reaches the gas station owner. It's basically legal gambling at our expense. What were those lawmakers thinking then? What are you thinking now? Either do the right thing, or you're part of the 1%."
So why are oil prices high? The Enron Loophole. Former Head of U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Professor Michael Greenberger, speaks to Congress on the high price of oil--and he's not happy about Energy Deregulations:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbdtTGYQBMU&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNp0y0SjOkY&feature=related
Rolling Stones Reporter Matt Taibbi: Truth about Goldman Sachs--how they have cornered the markets--basically, The Enron Loophole and the Shattering of Glass-Steagall Act in 1999. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waL5UxScgUw
Let's get focused and bring back The Glass-Steagall Act of 1933, they got it right 1933, so we don't need to REINVENT the wheel because bringing this Act back will help create an even playing field once again....and let's finally Close the Enron Loophole, which allowed Enron to charge what they wanted for energy; they went to jail for this; but no one completely closed the loophole, why? Re-Election Monies from the big brokerage firms and oil companies! The writing is on the wall.
Let's get organized and reinstate these critical financial reforms with a Million People March to Capitol Hill!
And considering we need a strong central focus/goal, maybe call it: "The Million People March to Capital Hill to Reinstate The Glass-Steagall Act and to Finally Close The Enron Loophole"
That will get their attention!
End corporate person-hood. Support the Human Worth Amendment. To learn more, please go to: http://occupywallst.org/forum/human-worth-amendment/
http://www.freepatriotism.com <--Click it damn zombie!.
Tell you what, you actually get this country to limit government power for real and THEN we'll talk about corporate greed.
Ok, I like that you are actually willing to negotiate. At least we now have a starting point for a deal. Think about this, if we limit corporate greed and power won't that severely cripple the power of the government? Who will bank roll corrupt politician campaigns? For once real people will get elected. Imagine elected officals who will listen to you and those who will listen to me and govern this country for the people not for $$$$.
Define limit corporate greed. Greed is not a tangible nor limitable "thing". You can definitely restrict companies from contributing to politicians, but you can't limit individual people, like CEO's. I still don't think you'd get "real" people in office. We have this silly little thing about letting everyone vote and therefore whomever gets into office will always be catering to the lowest common denominator of human.
If we can agree that corporations should not infringe on the rights of people we can have a basis on which to set some rules. When a person gets powerful enough to infringe on other people's rights we need to put a check on that power, otherwise we'd have a monarchy. If corporations get so big they start infringing on the rights of people then that is corporate greed. We may need to define rights for this argument, but I for one believe I have a right to breathe clean air. So do we allow corporations to massively pollute the environment. I believe I have a right to buy energy at a reasonable price. So what if oil speculators buy up all the oil and it costs $100 a gallon of gas? What about monopolies, the culmination of corporate greed, the robber barons of the turn of the century? Isn't eminent domain and the stealing of private property in the name of "progress" an infringement on your rights? Would you agree that sweat shop labor in third world countries is an example of corporate greed?
I personally believe that all individuals and small businesses can and should be free of regulation but if you get big enough to start infringing on others rights you must be limited to growing without hurting other people.
and, of course, why reinivent the wheel?
Here's how we can easily Reform Wall Street: Take away their powers "Once Again." And the best way to get it done is a Million People March to Capitol Hill!
For example, "We are here Congress because we want you to REINSTATE the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 http://www.investopedia.com/articles/03/071603.asp#axzz1aPEc3wX which was created to help save our country from the Great Depression by preventing investment companies, banks, and insurance companies from merging and becoming large brokerage firms; instead of just being Banks and Insurance companies -- Congress why can't you learn a history lesson from 1929? The current system doesn't work, once again, except for the 1%. Btw, why did most of you vote for the major repeal of G-S Act in 1999? Shattering The Glass-Steagall Act: http://www.counterpunch.org/2008/09/19/shattering-the-glass-steagall-act (2nd story here)
Think about where we are now, it all started in 1999 with lawmakers like Senator Phil Gramm who helped create legal gambling casinos for our banks: CNN's The Ten Most Responsible for Economy Collapse: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKQOxr2wBZQ&feature=related
Furthermore Congress, we also want you to CHANGE the Commodities Future Modernization Act of 2000 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commodity_Futures_Modernization_Act_of_2000 BACK to where it was before 2000, which since has deregulated energy markets and consequently allowed for such scams as The Enron Loophole; whereas in the early 2000's Enron Corp. was charging 250 bucks plus for a kilowatt hour...They all when to jail for this. But, the Enron loophole is still not closed, for example, allowing speculators to resell barrels of oil over and over again before it reaches the gas station owner. It's basically legal gambling at our expense. What were those lawmakers thinking then? What are you thinking now? Either do the right thing, or you're part of the 1%."
So why are oil prices high? The Enron Loophole. Former Head of U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission speaks to Congress on the high price of oil--and he's not happy about energy deregulations:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbdtTGYQBMU&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNp0y0SjOkY&feature=related
Rolling Stones Reporter Matt Taibbi: Truth about Goldman Sachs--how they have cornered the markets--basically, The Enron Loophole and the shattering of Glass-Steagall Act in 1999. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waL5UxScgUw
Let's get focused and bring back The Glass-Steagall Act of 1933, they got it right 1933, we don't need to REINVENT the wheel because bringing this Act back will help create an even playing field once again....and let's finally Close the Enron Loophole, which allowed Enron to charge what they wanted for energy; they went to jail for this; but no one closed the loophole, why? Re-election Monies from the big brokerage firms and oil companies! The writing is on the wall.
Let's get organized and reinstate these critical financial reforms with a Million People March to Capitol Hill!
Our legal system is in bed with the elite so a moral framework is only expected from the little people which is the 99%.
The constitution is not limiting government power because it is the presentation no content rule mentality that is in politics.
We have this rules - they are called consumer protection laws.
And they where heavily violated by banks and wall street, and finally by the government at signing of the bailout.
all during the real estate bubble
I'm advocating something more than a bill passed by congress. A constitution is not written by congress, it's written by THE PEOPLE. Clearly consumer protection laws are merely put in place to placate and appease the working class from rising up. I say we are tired of this pathetic crap and we need to completely forget about congress looking out for the 99%. We the people have the AUTHORITY to write a constitution not congress not the president. It MUST come from the people.
Why don't you start at the top of the pile?
Oblama the 'Constitutional lawyer' ignores it.
Legalize the Constitution
so what is your amendment proposal specifically > and why are you not lobbying congress?