(Community Matters) There are should be NO first amendment rights to free speech for corporations (ie., participation in the political process).
Corporations are completely government created entities which shield individuals from unlimited liability and are, obviously, a unique and efficient way to raise, deploy and create capital. The only rights they should have are those granted. In exchange for granting this franchise, governments appropriately expect taxes and public benefits – whatever else they deem to require in exchange for this special franchise.
To argue that they have some inherent right to participate in the political process – well, the logic escapes me. Their employees, stockholders & other stakeholders, yes of course. And, yes corporations IF our government so grants.
update: rats: just rec’d from a friend: “Unfortunately for all of us, the U.S. Supreme Court disagrees, construing “person” in the First A. to include “legal” persons (i.e. corporations). William O. Douglas filed a few lonely dissents from that position, but he never gained any traction with it. ”
Community Matters 