Redefining the nature of Citizenship over time | Brianna Lennon | TEDxCoMo

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there we go

there we go okay so this I promise this is the

okay so this I promise this is the

okay so this I promise this is the beginning of a joke so the Supreme Court

beginning of a joke so the Supreme Court

beginning of a joke so the Supreme Court 2010 court case Citizens United Disney

2010 court case Citizens United Disney

2010 court case Citizens United Disney World in the city of Columbia they’ll

World in the city of Columbia they’ll

World in the city of Columbia they’ll have a really important thing in common

have a really important thing in common

have a really important thing in common I promise that they do so in the essence

I promise that they do so in the essence

I promise that they do so in the essence of the concept of citizen we’ve had this

of the concept of citizen we’ve had this

of the concept of citizen we’ve had this tension over the years of individual

tension over the years of individual

tension over the years of individual rights versus corporate rights and in

rights versus corporate rights and in

rights versus corporate rights and in 2010 there was a landmark Supreme Court

2010 there was a landmark Supreme Court

2010 there was a landmark Supreme Court case called Citizens United

case called Citizens United

case called Citizens United in that case citizens united in on part

in that case citizens united in on part

in that case citizens united in on part is a nonprofit organization in 2008 it

is a nonprofit organization in 2008 it

is a nonprofit organization in 2008 it wanted to provide these politically

wanted to provide these politically

wanted to provide these politically targeted advertisements that were going

targeted advertisements that were going

targeted advertisements that were going to air just days before the 2008

to air just days before the 2008

to air just days before the 2008 Democratic presidential preference

Democratic presidential preference

Democratic presidential preference primary and at the time the

primary and at the time the

primary and at the time the mccain-feingold law which provide which

mccain-feingold law which provide which

mccain-feingold law which provide which prevented any kind of nonprofit any kind

prevented any kind of nonprofit any kind

prevented any kind of nonprofit any kind of corporation in any kind of Union from

of corporation in any kind of Union from

of corporation in any kind of Union from putting those targeted ads on spending

putting those targeted ads on spending

putting those targeted ads on spending any of their money to do that was was a

any of their money to do that was was a

any of their money to do that was was a challenge for them and they sued trying

challenge for them and they sued trying

challenge for them and they sued trying to get the right to be able to do that

to get the right to be able to do that

to get the right to be able to do that so in a landmark decision the Supreme

so in a landmark decision the Supreme

so in a landmark decision the Supreme Court said no no they’re well within

Court said no no they’re well within

Court said no no they’re well within their rights to do that Citizens United

their rights to do that Citizens United

their rights to do that Citizens United can pay for any kind of political ad

can pay for any kind of political ad

can pay for any kind of political ad that they want in fact if we try to stop

that they want in fact if we try to stop

that they want in fact if we try to stop them that’s actually infringing on their

them that’s actually infringing on their

them that’s actually infringing on their free speech rights and the reason for

free speech rights and the reason for

free speech rights and the reason for that they said is that all that

that they said is that all that

that they said is that all that corporations are are a loose Association

corporations are are a loose Association

corporations are are a loose Association of citizens and citizens of course have

of citizens and citizens of course have

of citizens and citizens of course have the right to free speech so there’s of

the right to free speech so there’s of

the right to free speech so there’s of course public backlash and a lot of

course public backlash and a lot of

course public backlash and a lot of calls for a constitutional amendment to

calls for a constitutional amendment to

calls for a constitutional amendment to overturn citizens united and there’s

overturn citizens united and there’s

overturn citizens united and there’s been increasing popularity of that kind

been increasing popularity of that kind

been increasing popularity of that kind of a constitutional amendment both

of a constitutional amendment both

of a constitutional amendment both presidential candidates last year were

presidential candidates last year were

presidential candidates last year were asked both said that they actually

asked both said that they actually

asked both said that they actually supported overturning Citizens United

supported overturning Citizens United

supported overturning Citizens United and polling for overturning citizens

and polling for overturning citizens

and polling for overturning citizens united is at something like seventy

united is at something like seventy

united is at something like seventy percent of all Americans so is this

percent of all Americans so is this

percent of all Americans so is this really the crux of what corporate rights

really the crux of what corporate rights

really the crux of what corporate rights are we’ve really been led to believe

are we’ve really been led to believe

are we’ve really been led to believe with the way that we have public

with the way that we have public

with the way that we have public discourse on

discourse on

discourse on rights versus corporate rights that this

rights versus corporate rights that this

rights versus corporate rights that this is really the end-all-be-all that if we

is really the end-all-be-all that if we

is really the end-all-be-all that if we just overturn citizens united then we’ll

just overturn citizens united then we’ll

just overturn citizens united then we’ll be fine we’ll go back to a situation

be fine we’ll go back to a situation

be fine we’ll go back to a situation where individuals have power they can

where individuals have power they can

where individuals have power they can influence the government but but that’s

influence the government but but that’s

influence the government but but that’s really not true I mean when you look at

really not true I mean when you look at

really not true I mean when you look at the individual and corporate rights you

the individual and corporate rights you

the individual and corporate rights you have to look at places like Disney World

have to look at places like Disney World

have to look at places like Disney World and Disney World is one of the most

and Disney World is one of the most

and Disney World is one of the most magical and beloved places on earth but

magical and beloved places on earth but

magical and beloved places on earth but it’s also a very carefully curated and

it’s also a very carefully curated and

it’s also a very carefully curated and very tightly controlled private

very tightly controlled private

very tightly controlled private government so in the night in the early

government so in the night in the early

government so in the night in the early sixties when Walt Disney wanted to

sixties when Walt Disney wanted to

sixties when Walt Disney wanted to create Disney World he started buying

create Disney World he started buying

create Disney World he started buying land in Florida and he created several

land in Florida and he created several

land in Florida and he created several shell companies to also buy some of this

shell companies to also buy some of this

shell companies to also buy some of this land in Florida and when they did that

land in Florida and when they did that

land in Florida and when they did that he went to the Florida Legislature and

he went to the Florida Legislature and

he went to the Florida Legislature and convinced them to turn it into a

convinced them to turn it into a

convinced them to turn it into a political subdivision one that he could

political subdivision one that he could

political subdivision one that he could have complete control over and he built

have complete control over and he built

have complete control over and he built the resorts within the land he built two

the resorts within the land he built two

the resorts within the land he built two small cities that live in better in the

small cities that live in better in the

small cities that live in better in the land and the sole citizens in both of

land and the sole citizens in both of

land and the sole citizens in both of these cities are employees of Disney

these cities are employees of Disney

these cities are employees of Disney they’re hand selected by Disney and

they’re hand selected by Disney and

they’re hand selected by Disney and within all of this area he created this

within all of this area he created this

within all of this area he created this district called the Reedy to really

district called the Reedy to really

district called the Reedy to really create Improvement District and the sole

create Improvement District and the sole

create Improvement District and the sole purpose of this district is to provide

purpose of this district is to provide

purpose of this district is to provide for the infrastructure of the area

for the infrastructure of the area

for the infrastructure of the area provide for everything that a local

provide for everything that a local

provide for everything that a local government would provide for and

government would provide for and

government would provide for and importantly provide for taxes so every

importantly provide for taxes so every

importantly provide for taxes so every year Reedy Creek Improvement District

year Reedy Creek Improvement District

year Reedy Creek Improvement District brings in over seventy million dollars

brings in over seventy million dollars

brings in over seventy million dollars that go directly to Disney to do

that go directly to Disney to do

that go directly to Disney to do whatever they want to do with it

whatever they want to do with it

whatever they want to do with it so really when we’re looking at Disney

so really when we’re looking at Disney

so really when we’re looking at Disney through this corporate lens this is the

through this corporate lens this is the

through this corporate lens this is the kind of struggle between individual and

kind of struggle between individual and

kind of struggle between individual and corporate rights that we need to look at

corporate rights that we need to look at

corporate rights that we need to look at we need to look at these places where

we need to look at these places where

we need to look at these places where instead of influencing through corporate

instead of influencing through corporate

instead of influencing through corporate money corporations and are just stepping

money corporations and are just stepping

money corporations and are just stepping into the role of corporate government

into the role of corporate government

into the role of corporate government bodies and taking over these powers and

bodies and taking over these powers and

bodies and taking over these powers and this isn’t really something new either

this isn’t really something new either

this isn’t really something new either in the in the 1960s Disney might be the

in the in the 1960s Disney might be the

in the in the 1960s Disney might be the most popular and largest of these kinds

most popular and largest of these kinds

most popular and largest of these kinds of districts but over the course of time

of districts but over the course of time

of districts but over the course of time all 50 states have adopted laws that

all 50 states have adopted laws that

all 50 states have adopted laws that allow these kinds of districts to happen

allow these kinds of districts to happen

allow these kinds of districts to happen and all major municipalities have them

and all major municipalities have them

and all major municipalities have them and that includes Columbia Columbia has

and that includes Columbia Columbia has

and that includes Columbia Columbia has dozens of these little districts they’re

dozens of these little districts they’re

dozens of these little districts they’re called anywhere from

called anywhere from

called anywhere from Community Improvement Districts too

Community Improvement Districts too

Community Improvement Districts too taxing tax increment financing subsidies

taxing tax increment financing subsidies

taxing tax increment financing subsidies or transportation development districts

or transportation development districts

or transportation development districts all different kinds of districts that

all different kinds of districts that

all different kinds of districts that are created either through unilateral

are created either through unilateral

are created either through unilateral decisions through businesses or through

decisions through businesses or through

decisions through businesses or through municipal government wanting to create

municipal government wanting to create

municipal government wanting to create some kind of a public-private

some kind of a public-private

some kind of a public-private partnership so really when we’re talking

partnership so really when we’re talking

partnership so really when we’re talking about these corporate and individual

about these corporate and individual

about these corporate and individual rights

rights

rights we’re not just looking at things like

we’re not just looking at things like

we’re not just looking at things like citizens united we’re not just looking

citizens united we’re not just looking

citizens united we’re not just looking at these large federal powers we have to

at these large federal powers we have to

at these large federal powers we have to start looking at what’s happening in our

start looking at what’s happening in our

start looking at what’s happening in our backyard in the transportation

backyard in the transportation

backyard in the transportation development district area for example

development district area for example

development district area for example you look at the state of Missouri and

you look at the state of Missouri and

you look at the state of Missouri and just this week the auditor released that

just this week the auditor released that

just this week the auditor released that there are a number of improvement

there are a number of improvement

there are a number of improvement districts that are not actually

districts that are not actually

districts that are not actually complying with the law but Missouri law

complying with the law but Missouri law

complying with the law but Missouri law doesn’t actually have a way for them to

doesn’t actually have a way for them to

doesn’t actually have a way for them to be punished for that so we have no

be punished for that so we have no

be punished for that so we have no recourse to be able to do anything about

recourse to be able to do anything about

recourse to be able to do anything about that does getting rid of that law

that does getting rid of that law

that does getting rid of that law actually do anything more either what I

actually do anything more either what I

actually do anything more either what I would say is that what we also need to

would say is that what we also need to

would say is that what we also need to remember in the struggle between

remember in the struggle between

remember in the struggle between corporate and individual rights is not

corporate and individual rights is not

corporate and individual rights is not just to look at the corporations it’s

just to look at the corporations it’s

just to look at the corporations it’s not just to look at what kind of

not just to look at what kind of

not just to look at what kind of corporations have rights what kind of

corporations have rights what kind of

corporations have rights what kind of powers that we’re giving to these

powers that we’re giving to these

powers that we’re giving to these corporations it’s that we need to look

corporations it’s that we need to look

corporations it’s that we need to look at what kind of rights we still have for

at what kind of rights we still have for

at what kind of rights we still have for ourselves because while we’re waiting

ourselves because while we’re waiting

ourselves because while we’re waiting for things like a Citizens United

for things like a Citizens United

for things like a Citizens United overhaul where we’re waiting for things

overhaul where we’re waiting for things

overhaul where we’re waiting for things like the legislature to change laws in

like the legislature to change laws in

like the legislature to change laws in the state of Missouri we can enact or we

the state of Missouri we can enact or we

the state of Missouri we can enact or we can we can use our own rights we can use

can we can use our own rights we can use

can we can use our own rights we can use our own powers as individuals we still

our own powers as individuals we still

our own powers as individuals we still have our own right to free speech we

have our own right to free speech we

have our own right to free speech we have our own right to vote we have our

have our own right to vote we have our

have our own right to vote we have our right to sunshine request we have our

right to sunshine request we have our

right to sunshine request we have our right to go to public meetings and all

right to go to public meetings and all

right to go to public meetings and all of these things happen on a daily basis

of these things happen on a daily basis

of these things happen on a daily basis all of these districts provide the

all of these districts provide the

all of these districts provide the avenue for corporations to come in and

avenue for corporations to come in and

avenue for corporations to come in and add additional taxes in each

add additional taxes in each

add additional taxes in each transportation district additional taxes

transportation district additional taxes

transportation district additional taxes are put on things like grocery stores

are put on things like grocery stores

are put on things like grocery stores and hotels and restaurants and things

and hotels and restaurants and things

and hotels and restaurants and things that we use every day and we can

that we use every day and we can

that we use every day and we can sunshine records that deal with those

sunshine records that deal with those

sunshine records that deal with those kinds of things and we can use the

kinds of things and we can use the

kinds of things and we can use the powers available to us to learn more

powers available to us to learn more

powers available to us to learn more about them

about them

about them and learn not just what they do but also

and learn not just what they do but also

and learn not just what they do but also whether they’re going to be new ones

whether they’re going to be new ones

whether they’re going to be new ones what is happening with the ones that we

what is happening with the ones that we

what is happening with the ones that we have now are we having problems with the

have now are we having problems with the

have now are we having problems with the ones that we have no there are there are

ones that we have no there are there are

ones that we have no there are there are avenues to get into these these

avenues to get into these these

avenues to get into these these struggles between individual and

struggles between individual and

struggles between individual and corporate rights and it’s important to

corporate rights and it’s important to

corporate rights and it’s important to remember that one of these things that

remember that one of these things that

remember that one of these things that citizens united Citizens United has

citizens united Citizens United has

citizens united Citizens United has reminded us is that we have a very

reminded us is that we have a very

reminded us is that we have a very important power of speech and using it

important power of speech and using it

important power of speech and using it to raise our voices and ask these hard

to raise our voices and ask these hard

to raise our voices and ask these hard questions and talk to each other and

questions and talk to each other and

questions and talk to each other and talk to our elected representatives all

talk to our elected representatives all

talk to our elected representatives all of these things are important and even

of these things are important and even

of these things are important and even the smallest of us with our freedom of

the smallest of us with our freedom of

the smallest of us with our freedom of speech have the ability to use our voice

speech have the ability to use our voice

speech have the ability to use our voice and so I would encourage everyone to use

and so I would encourage everyone to use

and so I would encourage everyone to use it

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