This is an archive of a past election.
See http://www.smartvoter.org/ca/mnd/ for current information.
LWV League of Women Voters of California Education Fund If you appreciate our service to voters, please consider helping us with a donation.
Smart Voter
Mendocino County, CA November 6, 2012 Election
Measure F
Advisory Measure to End Corporate Rule and Defend Democracy
Mendocino County

Advisory - Advisory Vote Only

Pass: 12453 / 73.30% Yes votes ...... 4535 / 26.70% No votes

See Also: Index of all Measures

Results as of Nov 7 1:04am, 100.0% of Precincts Reporting (247/247)
Information shown below: Impartial Analysis | Arguments |

Should the elected representatives of Mendocino County be instructed to enact resolutions calling for amendment to the United States Constitution to establish that 1) only human beings and not corporations are endowed with constitutional rights, and 2) that money does not constitute speech and therefore political contributions can be regulated?

Impartial Analysis from Interim County Counsel
The Board of Supervisors has adopted a resolution calling for an election to present to the voters of the County an advisory measure entitled "An Advisory Measure to End Corporate Rule and Defend Democracy".

Elections Code Section 9603 permits the County to hold at its discretion an advisory election for the purpose of allowing voters to voice their opinions on substantive issues. This is an advisory vote only and will in no manner be controlling on the sponsoring legislative body.

An "x" placed in the voting square after "YES" shall be counted in favor of the advisory vote. An "x" placed in the voting square after "NO" shall be counted against the advisory vote.

Dated: August 1, 2012

s/Terry N. Gross TERRY N. GROSS Interim County Counsel

 
This election is archived. Any links to sources outside of Smart Voter may no longer be active. No further links will be added to this page.
Links to sources outside of Smart Voter are provided for information only and do not imply endorsement.

Arguments For Measure F Arguments Against Measure F
Are Corporations Persons? Is Money Speech? The Supreme Court thinks so. Do you?

For over a century Supreme Court judges have used the doctrine of "corporate personhood" (the concept that corporations are "persons" with Constitutional rights) to overturn laws protecting consumers, workers and our environment.

In 2010, the infamous Citizens United case decided again that corporations must be given the same rights and protections under the U.S. Constitution as human persons. The 5-4 decision specified that donating unlimited money on campaigns should be considered free speech. Now it is "unconstitutional" to limit "indirect" campaign contributions of corporate or natural "persons."

Today, giant corporations make fundamental decisions affecting our daily lives: who gets elected, what laws are passed, our transportation choices, our healthcare options and what is in our food, water and air. Corporations are not just influencing our government; they control it. And us.

We are not against corporations as businesses. But they should not be allowed to run our government and damage our health, communities and environment. Democracy means the people govern, not huge international business entities.

There is something we can do. All over the U.S., citizens have come together in a Move to Amend coalition to pass resolutions calling for a Constitutional Amendment to end "corporate personhood" and restore political power to We the People. This Constitutional Amendment will make it clear to current and future Supreme Courts that our precious constitutional rights are intended only for natural human persons and that money is not speech and can be regulated by law.

Now it is our turn. As citizens of Mendocino County we can make our voices heard on this important issue. By voting Yes, we instruct our state and federal representatives to pass an Amendment to the Constitution abolishing "corporate personhood." Defend Democracy. Yes on Measure F.

s/Margaret Koster Margaret Koster Co-Chair Move to Amend Coalition of Mendocino County

s/Judith E. Popowski Judith E. Popowski Move to Amend Coalition of Mendocino County

s/Edward M. Oberweiser Edward M. Oberweiser Move to Amend Coalition of Mendocino County

s/Tom Wodetzki Tom Wodetzki Co-Chair Move to Amend Coalition of Mendocino County 23F1

No arguments against the measure were submitted.


Mendocino Home Page || Statewide Links || About Smart Voter || Feedback
Created: December 17, 2012 13:45 PST
Smart Voter <http://www.smartvoter.org/>
Copyright © League of Women Voters of California Education Fund   http://cavotes.org
The League of Women Voters neither supports nor opposes candidates for public office or political parties.