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Capitalism is out of control, thanks in no small part to Citizens United, the Supreme Court decision which said that a corporation is a person, even though it doesn't eat, drink, make love, sing, raise children or take care of aging parents. You can't have a people's democracy as long as corporations are considered people.
Bill Moyers
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote critiques the influence of corporations in democracy, arguing that treating corporations as people undermines democratic principles.

Bill Moyers highlights the problematic nature of the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, which equates corporations with individuals in the political sphere. He argues that this legal stance allows corporations to wield disproportionate power in democratic processes, overshadowing the voice of the individual citizen and eroding true democratic governance.

Themes

CapitalismDemocracyCorporationsPoliticsSupreme Court

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about corporate influence in politics, this quote serves to illustrate the dangers posed to democracy.

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