Lincoln didn't fight the civil war to free the corporations: Thom Hartmann at TEDxConcordiaUPortland

Thom Hartmann is a progressive syndicated talk show host heard in over a half-billion homes worldwide. He's a New York Times best-selling, 4-time Project Censored Award-winning author of 24 books. One of his books sparked a national debate on ADD/ADHD and neurological differences ranging from giftedness to autism. Another book so inspired a U.S. Senator that he delivered copies of the book to his 99 colleagues in the Senate and read from it extensively on the floor of the Senate.
Thom has spent much of his life working with and for the relief organization, Salem International. He and his wife Louise also founded a community for abused children in New Hampshire, as well as a school for learning disabled and ADHD kids. A Michigan native with strong ties to the Midwest-but currently living on a boat in Washington D.C.-Hartmann is an inveterate traveler and occasional risk-taker and has often found himself in the world's hot spots during pivotal moments in history.
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

[@GR-ji9fw]

Its been 6 years since this talk and it is so very relevant today. Thom Hartman is a national historian - so much knowledge. Thanks Mr. Hartman.

[@paulranger5250]

G R. I would say it is much more relevant today and a URGENCY in this age of Trump and people like the kochs.

[@jaymethysell5111]

I was thinking, "wow, Thom looks great." Then, I realized this video was over 5 years old. The message hasn't changed. The situation has only gotten worse.

[@donaldcarpenter5328]

This should have been shown in EVERY SCHOOL and EVERY HOME!!!

[@raphaelandrews3617]

Thom Hartman is smartest man I ever have ever seen on the net. He really educates people who take the time to listen to him.

[@Drgonzosfaves]

You should take a look at James Burke and his videos. Some of the best.

[@matthewgeiger1775]

The dude is obsessed with Trump, it's 90% of his material

[@joegillian314]

Calling corporations "persons" literally makes no sense whatsoever. It's a total contradiction. The whole point of incorporating is to diffuse accountability. Persons are individuals, accountable for their actions that they take as an individual. Corporations are not individuals. It's having your cake and eating it, too.

[@blastforth]

What about the right to assemble? The right of association? See NAACP v. Alabama, 357 U.S. 449 (1958) for another side of the coin.

[@joegillian314]

@@blastforth I don't see what that's got to do with anything, sorry.

[@j-man699]

The Robber Barons never go away. They just retreat snd plan.

[@joegillian314]

@@youretheai7586 Lol...can you incorporate if you are the sole proprietor? Then some can be a person and a corp at the same time, but only in that case, maybe? I dont see how it actually make difference though 🤣🤣🤣

[@lwells3937]

@@youretheai7586 maritime law is what made weed illegal because the Indians used it. Just because it's written into law doesn't make it right. That's the point. We have laws that don't work for us, they work for the 1%

[@igorminion9877]

Wow, that was powerful. Great speech, great guy.

[@elligilberg1564]

I just heard of this Princeton study two weeks ago and it blows my mind that this isn’t an issue of discussion- Nobody seems aware of this status quo in our country. Political funding needs to be regulated so politicians can’t be bought and owned and ruled by the wealthiest corporations in our country. (This talk was from before Trump was elected!-so now we are literally fighting for our democracy) “We the people, not we the corporations” what happened to the 28th amendment!?

[@Decrepit_Productions]

Good question. As to why the 28th Amendment proposed here isn't discussed, the entirety of mainstream news media, as well as almost every government office holder at the Federal and State level, are owned by uber-elite corporatists, who make sure that only their perspectives on what is best for the U.S. are allowed to receive widescale, positive circulation among the masses. Only on "social media" can one hope to find alternative voices, and even here it is becoming harder and harder for the average person to find such voices, thanks to algorithms that heavily favor "authoritative voices", meaning establiment news media. I'm convinced that if we had totally "honest" mainstream news, most of the nation's problems could be fixed, are at least on the road to recovery, within two four-year election cycles. But the current system renders this dream unattainable. We would somehow have to figure out how to effectively "spread the word" by means that relies neither on mainstream news no social media alternative new. How this can be done is beyond me.

[@johnanderson3700]

We’re fast falling down the hole of autocracy:

[@matthewgeiger1775]

How exactly are you fighting for democracy? And if Trump is reelected, where will your democracy go?

[@nathandrake5544]

This should have a lot more views

[@scottpreston5074]

Share it all over the place.

[@paulmatolsy4593]

Thom Hartmann is the best! What a grasp of history! This country can benefit from his wisdom. If only he reached a wider audience...

[@ebonkrieg]

The most fundamental, irritating thing about the world today is that we know what to do to fix most of our problems, we just refuse because we have corrupt, psychotic, decrepit and incompetent leadership in both parties and the sheep-like populations who support them. We roar towards the abyss, staring in horror, refusing to simply turn the wheel. It’s amazing to see, a true lesson in how pathological human societies can be. Why people do what they do is the big question, and you can’t understand the world if you can’t account for the actions of the misbegotten and the few. Actions follow beliefs and interests (of which class is only one, and often not determinate.) Our society is broken. Virtually everyone in a leadership position, or who has great wealth (same thing) needs to be removed from power, have their money taken away beyond a standard middle class standard, and be forbidden from ever running anything ever again. Our population needs to stop accepting psychopathic and incompetent leadership and learn that the only leaders worth having are those who actually put the people’s welfare first. If we do not do these things, climate change and the problems which will come downstream from it are going to make the pandemic look like a picnic that was upset because there were too many ants. This is where and who we are. Where we go from here depends upon you.

[@lwells3937]

Thom.. you may be too smart for a huge number of Americans. I wish you were president. Civics taught in schools is a must

[@identification133]

Listening to Thom Hartman, I sincerely believe that the corporations can be brought down, fragmented and let the smaller business take over. I never understood why they needed millions of dollars to fund campaigns - what we need is more funding to/for the people. They knew what they were doing when they blocked the funding.

[@GenerationX1984]

I feel they should put a cap on CEO pay because getting paid more than 10 times your average workers wages is ridiculous! Yeah. The CEO will cry and stamp his feet like a greedy toddler if they pass a law putting a cap on CEO wages. Just ignore him. If he complains just say, "That's nice." In a condescending tone and walk away. It's the only way to deal with them.

[@Pamela-ny7jz]

They will just pay for their house paid vacation stock. Stuff they already do. Just much more more.

[@bryanalcantarfilms]

Thom Hartmann is so awesome.

[@johnviktora6014]

Great Job, Thom!! Thank you!

[@vincentchacon42]

I praise this kind of thinking and am saddened to the depths we as a country have allowed these corporations and their dark money to taint our politicians... and we can use more people like Thom Hartmann to step up to the plate and call these things out as they are. We need to correct what damage has been done to our constitution before there's no repairing it 😢

[@theluzah]

Absolutely spot on, great talk Thom! Money out of politics now! #movetoamend

[@zabdas83]

The Original Luzah someone who finally she's the problem, money, or more accurately greed for more money. We need to do away with the stuff!

[@Gathsidespoison]

its been 9 years now- so relevant still and hes still full of hope. sadly we never woke up and its only gotten worse.

[@zehrajafri9252]

Good job, keep the truth alive. 👍 👍

[@toenail37]

Shared on Facebook, people need to take a stand to end the corruption.

[@wtfbollos]

i've got a lot of respect for Thom Hartmann :)

[@mrmusiclover4178]

Me, too.

[@benjaminmendezz]

@@mrmusiclover4178 me three

[@scottpreston5074]

👍

[@jimbob3030]

Well earned respect.

[@joylynne1343]

💯🇺🇲 A GREAT Ted Talk!!! 🇺🇲💯 💯🇺🇲 . . .Thank you!!! . . . 🇺🇲💯

[@billytheweasel]

"Old Wisconsin Law" my my my- how things have changed.

[@buddhangle]

Back when TED had actual challenging ideas and deep education. Before it was captured by corporate interests.

[@alistairmackintosh9412]

It wouldn't surprise me if this talk triggered that.

[@greg-op2jh]

I hadn't watched in years because of that exact thing. I started watching climate change talks and it was all propaganda.

[@Rob-fx2dw]

And Now it is politically dominated but Hartman is one of those politically motivated speakers pushing his own power seeking form of monopoly politics.

[@DarylBark]

@@Rob-fx2dw And exactly what type of Political power is Mr. Hartmann seeking pray tell? I would love to see some proof to back up your statement. One Link wold suffice.

[@Rob-fx2dw]

@@DarylBark If you can't work that out you are in a desperate situation. He is a socialist pushing socialism which is a form of political power. He promotes more political power over individual power of the population which he sees private property as subservient to more power for politicians to force people to comply with the ideals of politicians who are often corrupt themselves and who act in ways that are contrary to the laws that apply to individuals. The evidence of this is the tax system whereby government collects taxes that can bankrupt individuals yet the government politicians do the very same with their own monopoly power and are completely exempt from prosecution. iT'S TOTAL HYPOCRISY OF THE GREATEST KIND.

[@skaz1504]

You, sir, are my hero. Thank you for what you do.

[@53truthseeker]

Call and write your Representatives. Write a letter to the editor. Sign the petition, talk to your neighbors friends and family. We can do this if we push a hard enough. Nothing will change unless WE are the change!

[@matthewjackson9615]

The reason people allow themselves to be lorded over is because this is what they desire. They may harbor a weak spirit of rebellion but this will be overshadowed by their tremendous need to conform. Few men desire liberty; most men wish only for a just master. - Sallust

[@jasonemryss]

Thom Hartmann belongs on the Supreme Court

[@Zenjedi99v2]

He could never be that judgemental. :)

[@barbazzallc]

Great job Thom!

[@macgeek2004]

@1:15 "Back in the late '90's, when Louise and I moved back to Vermont, and bought an old house, up in the attic found a 20-volume collection of the collected writings of Thomas Jefferson -- only been printed once." Goddamn, Thom! WTF kind of houses do you buy?? LOL!

[@Etatdesiege1979]

Some Yankee rural lawyers.

[@scottpreston5074]

Reprint these books or publish them as e-books. I'd love to have them.

[@manuelortiz7731]

After watching this video, i feel 17 minutes smarter... Always a pleaseure to learn from Dr Thom

[@bernl178]

Where did those laws go? You would think today you would have laws on lobbying and influence peddling. Thank you, Mr. Hartman, for bringing certain things Too light

[@johnwright9372]

The need for reform is ever more pressing today when corporate interests have led the very Republic to the brink of disaster.

[@j-man699]

Spread this piece of history for your country. Brilliant! Truth!

[@ryanharvey9800]

He should have done a 5 year speaking tour on this speech

[@conniegrant939]

We need to bring back and update that so the rich doesn’t run the government

[@GenerationX1984]

I like the idea of a corporate death penalty. How can we bring that back???

[@Lynn-mi4od]

Love this guy!

[@bobbart4198]

A unique explanation for the roots of the Revolutionary War, and a brilliant analysis of today's " Gilded Age " ...

[@terrydillon9323]

Yes our our country is run by the corporations for the corporations. Not, by the people for the people. A few are getting rich off the backs of the people’s hard work and health.

[@steven.h0629]

Thom brought this up again *today* on his own channel .. algorithm 👍😎✊

[@spicybraisedchickensbc843]

End of the Corporate Age - The Color Bars. Inspiring song. Remember Money is the route cause of your problems, as it puts a "value" on humanity.

[@lanetadelplaneta5530]

And is a mere ILLUSION!!! paper with value to control the population. .

[@rikk319]

@@lanetadelplaneta5530 No different than gold, shells, gems, or any other inanimate object humans give an arbitrary value to.

[@actownsend7288]

Thom you’re a hero to me!!!!

[@5kehhn]

We're still waiting in 2020.

[@jb1139]

If we know where the money is coming from (CEOs, companies, banks), why is the Tillman act not being triggered? It needs to be expanded!

[@richardsheehan6983]

Citizens, we the people, have the responsibility and the power to do what we want, even though we have been dumbed.

[@matthewjackson9615]

Most people, as yourself Mr. Sheehan, cling to the false notion that the masses will arise. Put it out of your mind, they're helpless animals. The following law has never been violated , nor shall it ever be : With kings, nations, and private individuals, the strongest assume to themselves rights over the weakest, and the same rule is followed by animals, by matter, by the elements, so that everything is performed in the universe by violence. And that order which we blame with some appearance of justice is the most universal, most absolute, most unchangeable, and most ancient law of nature. ~ Luc de Clapiers, Marquis de Vauvenargues (6 August 1715 - 28 May 1747) All, Mr. Hartmann did in this little lecture of his is confirm this law.

[@rikk319]

@@matthewjackson9615 And what of the other people who don't behave as the masses? Would you have them deny their genetic or developed behavior and act like the masses, too? It isn't a natural law if it isn't inviolable. It may be a tendency for humans to be sheep...but not everyone is a sociopathic narcissist, nor a timid authoritarian. There's a spectrum of human behavior, not an either/or.

[@Time4Peace]

Why is this amazing 6-year old talk receiving so few views? Why isn't this talk making waves to re-claim democracy?

[@OtherDAS]

Because it's full of it. Lots of lies in it.

[@harveyhester2113]

Because there never was a democracy

[@Time4Peace]

@@OtherDAS lies such as...? Just name two.

[@OtherDAS]

1) Very start of the video. "The SC essentially saying GW and AL fought to free corporations." This is NOT what the SC has stated -- instead it has stated that people who form organizations (including corporations) do not lose their freedoms as individuals. 2) Very next group of statements talking about a "Gilded Age" and how we are in the third one -- and they have a very small middle class, large poor working class, and small rich class. Middle Class in the US is quite large larger than the other two combined) and any decrease in the Middle Class has generally been from people moving UP to the lower end of the Upper Class. 3) Conflates the competition of Walmart against local business with the East India corporation and their use of Govt power to wipe out competition. That's at the 3:56 mark. I didn't even get to FOUR MINUTES, and there is another 14 minutes to go with more lies. Did you even listen to his talk?! 4) At 5:10 when he say Americans can't influence Policy in govt -- but Special interest groups can.... who the F does he think form these groups? Say for example the NRA a group that formed specifically to represent the interests of Americans who didn't think politicians in Washington were listening to them... this would be HOW the very group he says aren't represented GET their representation. And I could probably pull even more out of that bit if I had more time and a fine comb. Full of Lies like I said.

[@Time4Peace]

@@OtherDAS I assume you are against the thrust of his argument - that democracy is about "We the people.." and not "We the corporations..." and by allowing funding by corporations of politicians is corruption of the democratic process. Corporations not only influence how politicians vote in the Congress but also control the mass media and your though processes. If you are ok with it, many aren't. By your manner in which you write, everything is a lie when you disagree. With due respect, I hope you are not nit picking to protect some implicit ideological slant.

[@kcuzz4091]

Boy, do we need the Tillman Act again!

[@MsArrika]

Unfortunately it would seem, history will have to repeat itself yet again before any such action will be taken. I can feel the desperation being where I am at this stage in my life- being a minority on the edge of homelessness and starvation everyday with my first child on the way. Ive seen the way the system keeps those who have the least prospects and the least power under constraint and I know how urgent the need for change is. Despite having been in similar situations throught history, people only take notice when they have no choice but to face it directly. Only when desperation is at its peak will anything be done, I just hope my family and I can survive it and still raise our son without too much dysfunction before things either get too bad or until action takes place. The generational trauma caused by how our society operates seems to me to be one of the most unfortunate implications of it all.

[@shadowdance4666]

Thom’s my newest latest Hero ❤️

[@ellenandron]

Think positive thoughts. We can do something about the mess we are in! Spread this to everyone you know no matter what their political preferences are!

[@bernl178]

Please bring back the old Wisconsin law

[@annprehn]

We need an update on this.

[@JustinElkin]

I catch him weekdays on Sirius xm 127 12-3pm est.

[@reniaesaddler8632]

This doesn’t have as many views as it merits.

[@timmydotlife]

This video should get more attention. YT algo please?

[@barrychase8073]

I believe we the people are screwed as long as rich politicians stay in power.

[@asimovstarling8806]

This was 9 years ago for me. We're still fighting.

[@kevincarrigan6348]

Reactivate the Tillman Act, & establish the 28th Ammendment !!!!!!

[@donaldcarpenter5328]

I collected signatures for that petition when I was about 10 at the Seafair Hydroplane Races !!!

[@kcuzz4091]

I like the Old Wisconsin Law! This is what we need.

[@robmc1310]

The Old Wisconsin Law should be added to the US Constitution.

[@michaellanoue9156]

We need the old Wisconsin Law!

[@dlewis895]

CORP IS LIKE A GANG TOUGHER IN A GROUP AN LESS ACCOUNTABILITY

[@QuinniMundo]

Excellent talk. I'm a little disappointed that Thom is not familiar enough with Rachel Carson that he mispronounces, and trips over, her name. Especially since she is the only woman mentioned in the whole talk. I will still share the link. We need to know this.

[@raginglunatik8979]

The gov IS big corporation. Other corporations are just competition.

[@zehrajafri9252]

Truth teller's like Pilger, Assange, Monbiot and Thom should be brought into politics, so we'll have honest, truthful people working for the masses and the planet.

[@user-qb7qg2pp6w]

Change natural persons to the People, Many states have a different definition of Natural Person.

[@phillipwoodard7427]

You can be sure that voting corporations support a candidate according to 1 or 2 or the board. The rest have NO SAY! Likewise with campaign contributions.

[@constantiahonora829]

Even more as 2023 is just hours away

[@niemdan]

Need to take out Tyson Foods. They have their knee on the neck of farmers and ranchers. An amendment would be best case scenario for them, they don’t want the alternative

[@professor1029]

Love your work Thom but twice now, this clip & on another video clip, you say Rachel Carlson "Silent Spring," it's not Carlson, it's Carson

[@agro419]

I love Thom and his message but historical nuance needs to be applied to the Civil War being fought to get rid of slavery narrative. Lincoln wasn't an abolitionist. His main goal was preservation of the Union amd extension of federal power. Slavery was an issue, most certainly. But, I feel it could be argued it was not the main issue, it just sounds like a more noble reason to fight.

[@blastforth]

At 6:34 the audience applauds the Tillman Act. If only they knew anything about Sen. "Pitchfork Ben" Tillman.

[@darondatoole7439]

Very very relevant today.

[@robertodell8900]

It is as simple as demanding a birth certificate from corporations. Without a certificate of live birth, corporations are not persons. A first year law student, should be able to defeat the false premise. That corporations are not persons. Also corporations only duties are to make money for its stockholders. Regardless of its affect on the people of the nation. Corporations have no aligence to the nation.

[@stevepenney6459]

Wake up America!!

[@karenstimson2683]

Actually the line in Eve of Destruction is "you're old enough to kill, but not for votin':. Just FYI. Love Thom Hartmann, great talk!

[@richardsheehan6983]

INought to be clear about this stuff by now. Still worth repeating.

[@GregoryWonderwheel]

Abraham Lincoln would be called a Democratic Socialist if he were alive today. He did not get a chance to put his economic ideas into practice because of the civil war. However, he knew that capitalism is theft and that government should be used to protect labor from capitalists, not to protect capitalists from labor. He knew that capitalists treated workers like slaves even if they were legally called "free" men. Here's something Lincoln said to Congress: "It is not needed, nor fitting here [in discussing the Civil War] that a general argument should be made in favor of popular institutions; but there is one point, with its connections, not so hackneyed as most others, to which I ask a brief attention. It is the effect to place capital on an equal footing with, if not above, labor, in the structure of government. It is assumed that labor is available only in connection with capital; that nobody labors unless somebody else, owning capital, somehow by the use of it induces him to labor. This assumed, it is next considered whether it is best that capital shall hire laborers, and thus induce them to work by their own consent, or buy them, and drive them to it without their consent. Having proceeded thus far, it is naturally concluded that all laborers are either hired laborers or what we call slaves. And further, it is assumed that whoever is once a hired laborer is fixed in that condition for life. Now, there is no such relation between capital and labor as assumed, nor is there any such thing as a free man being fixed for life in the condition of a hired laborer. Both these assumptions are false, and all inferences from them are groundless. "Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration." Lincoln also said, "And, inasmuch, most good things are produced by labour, it follows that such things of right belong to those whose labour has produced them. But it has so happened in all ages of the world, that some have laboured, and others have, without labour, enjoyed a large proportion of the fruits. This is wrong, and should not continue. To each labourer the whole product of his labour, or as nearly as possible, is a most worthy object of any good government." (This is for those of you who are literate enough to read more than 144 characters and who can think beyond slogans. The slogan loving public are mostly hopeless when it comes to complex political questions and basic analysis of economic and monetary policies.)

[@sblyoyo]

today, most people think the opposite: capital is much much superior to labor, capital created jobs, etc..

[@commandershepard1838]

By this logic, a female basketball player should make as much or more because she works 1000 times as hard for her sport as an nba basketball player who was born with natural gifts but doesn’t put in the work. As a person who enjoys sports that are entertaining, I’d rather spend money to watch Kevin Durant barely try and play then watch the best female basketball player give her all. Just because someone spent 10 years building a table doesn’t mean they deserve the same pay for making the table as someone who made the same table in an hour. Both worked hard, in fact the man who worked 10 years worked much harder. There needs to be value to labor. Labor can’t have inherent value in how hard a person works. It would take a 160 lb man longer to move stones doing a landscaping job than it would Brian Shaw (4 time world strongest man). As a business man if you could, you would pay Brian more because he can do more for you in less time. It’s not unfair that Brian gets more than the other guy who worked 100 times harder to move the stones. All labor is not equal. All skills are not equal. All knowledge is not equal. Knowing how to run a multi billion dollar, global corporation is more valuable than knowing how to make a burger.

[@KyleHUNK]

Hank Rola Lincoln tried to buy the slaves from the south to end slavery and they all refused and then declared war on the U.S.

[@KyleHUNK]

Randy Randerson They are arguing that everyone should have equal POWER, not outcomes or incomes/wages. Corporations ran by workers are more efficient, Mondragon is an example, but empirical studies of worker cooperatives as a whole show this. We have billionaire idiots running the world, BearStern is not an anomaly.

[@robinsss]

Lincoln didn't fight the war to end the slaves and SCOTUS could strike down the amendment

[@jimsummers487]

Workers must sacrifice so that their managers can stay at home in pajamas …. Deleting emails from a wheelchair

[@raphaelandrews3617]

13-40 " judges made law that a corporations have the right of the free speech, ie money is speech"

[@thesoundsmith]

And now, NINE years, and it's only gotten worse. Wake the people up. How? Not a freakin' clue...

[@stevenpringle9492]

Lincoln was a Politician.

[@teresathomley3703]

Tag- you're it!!

[@johnwright9372]

The small business people were making money by smuggling tea into the Colonies. When the tax was slashed the advantage of smuggling was wiped out.

[@johnwright9372]

Correct. The Boston Tea Party had nothing to do with any independence movement.

[@avadheshsharma1173]

Exceptionally good talk! I have always liked Thom Hartmann.

[@marks9865]

He didnt even fight it for the slaves

[@hugh_jasso]

Nope. It was solely to save the Union. Ending slavery was a way for Lincoln to keep other countries from joining the South in war against the North.

[@dennisr.levesque2320]

You're missing a big concept here. Let's change "taxation without representation" to "regulation/government without representation". From this view-point, to regulate/govern people, people must be represented, and to regulate/govern corporations, corporations must me represented. Don't conflate the two.

[@Andrew19036]

Just to give them free labor.

[@TheToltec]

Yep

[@marvinmartin4692]

I would love to see that 28th amendment! If corporations are people they should have a natural lifespan! Based on human average lifespan 70 years! By that many would be dead!

[@januarysson5633]

The problem with the amendment is that it doesn’t define “natural person” which is a big loophole. I would also favor language that said “the rights of natural persons shall not be trumped by the rights of artificial persons”. To say corporations have no rights against each other would be imprudent. Also I would change the term in the second clause from “spending of money” to “use of money”.

[@OtherDAS]

People in a corporation still maintain their rights as people. Just like in a Union.

[@Zenjedi99v2]

Thom's shoes are kinda blingy. The man has good style taste as well.

[@wkmac2]

The word libertarian has become a problematic word, especially over the last 30 or so years with its mixing with electoral politics with much the fault of libertarians. BUT being a libertarian of a more leftward and lower case perspective, little if any of what I just heard from Thom that I seriously disagree with. And what little disagree exists in not on principal but moreso in action and how to expresses itself and that can be resolved with a transparent dialogue and working or compromised agreements. Well done Thom Hartman.

[@fizmath1994]

Lincoln got his start as a corporate lawyer.

[@huizhechen3779]

He didn't fight it to free the slaves either. He freed them because he was forced by circumstances to: needed more soldiers. He couldn't win the war & preserve the union without a decisive military victory. He wanted the Freedmen /women to emigrate to S. America or Africa.

[@lynnwood7205]

The concept of the "people" has been completely redefined from that espoused by Thom Hartman in this year if 2021. I am not attacking Thom but just trying to explain how the Corporatists have seized total control, making ordinary citizens irrelevant to the process of governance. The only way out is to change the money.

[@billr4164]

The voting age was lowered to 18 because it's it's old enough to go to war, and yet congress recently passed a law stating the same individual can't own certain guns until they are 21. Where's the consistent train of thought?

[@n.r.2258]

….. the people wouldn’t listen …. they want barbecue and football …. America needs another folks.

[@stevefitt9538]

Way late to have much effect. Before we get that Constitutional Amendment, we could impose a 99% tax on campaign contributions by corps, foreign natural persons, and those over $200 by natural persons, who live in America. Also the 99% tax on campaign ads purchased by anyone other than a candidate or a political party. These would need careful wording to not allow loopholes. This is easier than an amendment.

[@1LaOriental]

Chris Hedges.

[@robertsmith-cj6gl]

" frankly my dear I don't give a damn".

[@stevefitt9538]

I assert that if corps are full persons, then they can't be owned by other persons. They can't be slaves. I assert that Congress and the President can pass a law that corps can't be owned by their stockholders and therefore must be owned by the state in which they are incorporated. Assets of foreign corps become owned by thee Federal Gov. This law shall take effect in 1.5 years unless the 28th Amendment is ratified 1st. This might motivate corps to get the 28th Amend. ratified.

[@briseboy]

How low and Medieval has Wisconsin sunk since that legislation! Ryan, Trump, , I'm too nauseated to go on.

[@fbrosseau]

What did happen between May 9th 2014 and today September 14 2023? We saw Trump in the White House and all that came with it ... Who listens to Thom Hartmann and apply what he says in a such brilliant TEDx Talks?