upcoming

Corporate Power and Democracy Workshop

What:

Eureka - On Saturday, February 13th Democracy Unlimited of Humboldt County (DUHC) will host its full-day introductory workshop “Challenging Corporate Rule, Creating Democracy.”  The workshop will take place at 1402 M St., Eureka from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The workshop traces the history of corporate power in America in order to discuss how corporations have assumed their current role in society.  “Corporations have become the dominant institution of our time, growing stronger and more powerful than most governments.  When our government rushes to provide 700 billion dollars to corporate bankers but vetoes funds for children’s health insurance, it’s clear that corporations, not citizens, are in charge,” said Democracy Unlimited’s Meghan Murphy.

With the most recent Supreme Court ruling, Citizens United v. FEC, the court overturned flimsy federal campaign finance reform laws afforded by the McCain-Feingold law. Corporations can now spend unlimited money in buying our elections. “The Court has literally legalized corporate bribery and extortion of our elected officials” says David Cobb of Democracy Unlimited. This is a most appropriate time for community members to consider and question the historical facts and legitimacy of corporate empowerment and its debilitating effect on our democracy. “Most people strongly favor protecting laborers, local businesses, and the environment,” said Jon Zaglin of Democracy Unlimited. “But public safety measures to defend these interests are largely impossible when corporate institutions are granted constitutional protections.”  Since corporations did not have these rights at our country’s founding, it’s important to know how they got them.

While some may see the negative effects of the corporation in America as a bleak topic, Democracy Unlimited sees reason for optimism.  “We offer these workshops to empower citizens so they can have confidence in asserting their democratic rights,” stated Meghan Murphy. 

The workshop focuses on the physical and social impacts of large corporations and how communities across the country are challenging corporate rule.  Through presentation, focused discussion, and group exercises, participants will learn the history of corporate empowerment and how they can help to challenge it.

This workshop fills up quickly.  Cost of the workshop is $25-100 sliding scale in order to be affordable to everyone.  To reserve your spot for the February 13th workshop or for more information, call Democracy Unlimited at 269-0984 or visit our website at www.DUHC.org.  Participants are asked to be able to attend the entire workshop and arrive no latter than 10:30 am so the workshop can begin promptly.

The Workshop will be co-facilitated by Meghan Murphy and Jon Zaglin of Democracy Unlimited.  Democracy Unlimited is a grassroots organization dedicated to contesting illegitimate corporate power and asserting democracy at the local level.

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