Over one hundred local activists attended a one-day conference organized by sixteen local progressive groups, focusing on the anti-democratic nature of corporations in contemporary American society and the actions citizens can take to improve the situation. Speakers provided a background structure for understanding the history and status of corporate rule. Discussion and action groups worked to understand specific areas of corporate influence and strategize corrective action.
The conference happened at the First Universalist Church in Minneapolis. Keith Ellison, DFL representative from North Minneapolis, MC'd the event in concert with local activist Betsy Barnum. The event also featured spoken word performances by Omaur Bliss and Cedric Bolton, and music by David Rovics and Rachel Nelson.
Barnum began the conference by summarizing the history of corporations in the US. Communities are currently limited to the use of regulatory tactics such as boycotts, lawsuits, and new legislation to limit the damage done by corporations. However, in the beginning of the US and until a little over one hundred years ago, corporations were limited entities created in the public interest. The founding fathers of our country were well acquainted with the problems caused by the powerful British corporations that had been active in the colonies. Corporate charters were issued for limited time periods and specific purposes. Misbehavior by corporations often resulted in the 'corporate death penalty': dissolution.
Then came the 1886 Santa Clara County vs. Southern Pacific Railroad Company decision, which was later understood to grant corporations protection under the 14th amendment, written to help the recently-freed slaves. The resulting power and protections lead to today's situation, in which corporations have acquired de facto governing powers. Harms they cause are very difficult to address unless those harms break specific laws, making it all but impossible to prevent much of the damage they cause.
Following Barnum's introduction, John Nichols delivered the keynote address. Nichols opened by noting that Jane's Defense Weekly, the Wall Street Journal of the military, has written that the planning for the invasion of Iraq suffered from 'excessive amplification'. This means that one perspective got all the airtime, leaving our forces unprepared for unexpected difficulty. This one-sidedness of the discussion about Iraq, argued Nichols, was a product of our ruling class' acceptance of the theory of neoliberalism and its companion, neoconservativism. These theories work like so:
Neoliberalism says that we're at the 'End of History' and have all the answers for how to run the world: just like we run America. If there are problems here or abroad, it's because the neoliberal program hasn't been followed firmly enough. Free trade, privatization of common resources, and the reliance on 'the wisdom of markets' is the one true way to run a country.
Neoconservativism agrees with neoliberalism but adds that resistance to the privatization of the world must be met by a strong police force. The US, as the sole superpower of the world, must fill that role.
Before the terrorist attacks of September 11 2001, George Bush showed little interest in neoconservative arguments. Once we were attacked, though, he suddenly accepted their platform and started pursuing the suggested program: overthrowing regimes in 'rogue nations'.
The results of neoliberalism and neoconservativism identified by Nichols:
- worsening farm crisis
- millions of jobs moving overseas
- concentration of wealth
- consolidation of media
- lowered voting numbers
- eroded civil liberties
- weakened international cooperation
Following Nichols' address, conference attendees broke into discussion groups, focusing on specific issues including labor, environment, healthcare, militarism and globalization, race and reparations, media, and immigration. After the group discussions, a panel shared some promising developments:
John Karvel of Code for Corporate Responsibility talked about their campaign to insert wording into the MN Statutes to require corporations to consider the environment, human rights, and public health in addition to shareholder profits.
Northern Minnesota Representative Bill Hilty covered bills he'll be introducing. One was a state version of Paul Wellstone's federal bill that prevents government contracts with businesses incorporated in tax-exempt zones. Hilty also discussed an amendment to clarify that each instance of "person" in the Minnesota constitution refers to a natural person, as opposed to a corporation.
Nick Palumbo of Fair and Clean Elections talked about their campaign to provide political candidates with public funding when they demonstrate grassroots support and agree to strict funding guidelines. This has been successful in both Maine and Arizona, who have seen the diversity of candidates significantly improved. Half of the MN Senate and one-third of the House are in support.
Korla Masters, a freshman at South high school, talked about the YO anti-sweatshop campaign. They convinced the Minneapolis School Board to adopt a sweatshop-free policy for all garment and athletic equipment purchases, and are working with students in Saint Paul, Stillwater, and area Catholic schools to adopt similar measures.
Joel Albers of the Task Force for Single Payer Healthcare talked about the growing recognition of the need for universal healthcare. His group plans to build local networks to address the issue and raise awareness through the media.
Finally, groups corresponding to the earlier discussion issues met to plan followup action. Many of the groups defined tasks they wished to pursue and resolved to continue meeting after the conference. All groups recognized existing local efforts in their areas, and discussed ways to join or complement those efforts.
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