Corporations aren't people - WTF?

[Chicago Jake]

I'm getting an ad that says "Corporations aren't people," and it shows Al Franken's smiling face along with it. That can't be good.

What the fuck does that mean? Of course they aren't people, but they are treated as individuals under certain areas of the law. For instance, they pay taxes as if they are people, which I never understood.

Anyway, what is this all about? What's the agenda, and whose? Some sort of liberal attack on campaign funds? Or is it more nefarious than that?

[New Mama]

Franken wants to do away with a not for profit group called Citizens United. He wants a constitutional amendment to overturn a landmark United States Supreme Court case in which the Court held that the First Amendment prohibited the government from restricting independent political expenditures by corporations and unions.

edited to add that it was Citizens United that sued the Federal Election Board to allow corporations and unions to contribute to political candidates (and won).

[Chicago Jake]

Thanks, that helps.

One would think that corporations would lean toward the right, but at the same time that unions would lean toward the left. So it seems the ruling would have a "fair and balanced" effect over all, and nobody should be bitching about it.