Should you care about I-735?

Should you care about I-735?
By Ann Eachus

Are corporations people? Do they share our interests in what we expect from governments?

We expect the government to protect our rights to “privacy; …. food, clothing shelter, education and health care” *1 Washington State Initiative 735 urges our congressional delegation to propose a constitutional amendment that says corporations are not people and money is not protected free speech.

Courts have ruled that the duty of corporations is to make profits for their stockholders. With that mandated focus, we cannot expect a corporation to want the same kinds of things from governments that we, as people, want. And with their long lives and deep pockets, they exert influence over governments that individuals cannot match.

“We support measures that would reduce the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few.” *2 At Annual Conference 2015, the body voted to endorse I-735. It is a policy issue not related to a particular party or individual candidate.

Putting this measure on the 2016 ballot is a step toward ensuring that, in the future, issues will debated more by individuals rather than the sound bites of well-funded advertising campaigns.

This is an issue that affects us all. Petition forms are available from www.wamend.org. Make the Conference endorsement real by signing one soon.

View Initiative 735 at http://bit.ly/i735-pdf.