Democracy Unlimited of Humboldt County
Press Release - March 30, 2005

Survey Says: Yes to Local Democracy,
No to Corporate Campaign Contributions

EUREKA – Humboldt State University students do not merely add dollars to the local economy. They can also significantly add to our understanding of our community. On Wednesday March 30, HSU graduate student Adrian Chevraux-Fitzhugh did just that, announcing the preliminary results of a comprehensive county-wide telephone survey designed to determine what Humboldt residents think about corporations.

“Corporate spokespersons, governmental agencies, and non-profit groups frequently make claims concerning public opinion on various matters impacting this area. My research is an effort to ask the people themselves what they really think about the role of corporations in Humboldt County,” said Chevraux-Fitzhugh.

The information was collected using a scientifically random sample of voting age citizens last fall. The results demonstrated that Humboldt residents definitely support business, but are adamantly opposed to corporations participating in elections. Over 80% believe that corporations should not have the ability to claim constitutional rights that outweigh small business, environmental or labor protections.

Only 35% of respondents were familiar with the concept of “corporate personhood,” which is the legal doctrine that allows corporations to claim the same constitutional rights of human beings. Those that were aware of the corporate personhood concept were much more critical of corporations.

Chevrraux-Fitzhugh worked with Democracy Unlimited of Humboldt County (DUHC), a Eureka-based non-profit organization that educates citizens about the history of corporations and democracy in the United States. “At DUHC we have long-claimed that unelected and unaccountable corporate CEOs are literally making fundamental public policy decisions regarding the most basic aspects of our lives,” said Outreach Coordinator Hannah Clapsadle. “It is especially gratifying to learn that the majority of Humboldt citizens share our concern about corporate participation in politics,” she said.

A significant majority opposes allowing corporations to participate in local elections. “Over 3/4 of the respondents felt that corporate contributions made political corruption more likely,” added Chevraux-Fitzhugh.

“These results are telling,” said Clapsadle. “Folks clearly favor protecting the environment, labor and local business. But they are mostly unaware of the fact that activist judges have illegitimately granted corporations powers that hinder our ability to do just that. Meaningful regulation is largely impossible if corporations are considered to have constitutional rights.”

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Click here to view further survey results (PDF document).

Click here to download this press release as a Word document.