A Prayer for America: on Corporations


Rescued Cleveland Electric from profitable utility

Consumers have a stake in the fight against utility monopolies. We rescued a municipal electric system from the clutches of one of America’s most profitable privately-owned utilities. We revived the prosecution of a $325 million antitrust damage suit against the same utility, for unfair and anti-competitive practices, which have been confirmed in findings by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. We are continuing to maintain municipal utilities because we believe that public service facilities must belong to the public. They are not to be considered private loot. They are public rights. Our defense of our municipal electric utility assures Cleveland consumers of the advantages of continued competition and provides them with an alternative for lower electric rates.
Source: Speech to National Press Club, in Prayer for America, p. 6 Jan 1, 1977

Enron: Dems should become party of re-regulation

This predatory [deregulated electricity] system must be set aside. The only way to ensure that Enron does not happen again is for government at all levels to reclaim the role as regulator in the public interest, to restructure electric rates to protect residents and small businesses, to enact windfall profit taxes, and to finance the construction of municipal power systems. The Democratic Party must become the party of re-regulation, of public control, of public accountability, of public power.
Source: Speech to DNC, in Prayer for America, p. 26-27 May 25, 2002

Need separation of corporation and state

We need a new relationship between the Democratic Party and corporate America--call it arms-length--so that our party is capable of independently affirming the public interest. We need a new relationship between corporations and our society. Just as our founders understood the need for separation of church and state, we need to institutionalize the separation of corporations and the state. This begins with government taking the responsibility to establish the conditions under which corporations may do business in the US, including the establishment of a federal corporate charter which describes corporate rights and responsibilities.

Corporations should pay a fair share of taxes. If corporations shift profits offshore to avoid paying taxes, they should not be permitted to operate in the US. The decrease in corporate tax responsibility is an indication of the rise of corporate power.

Source: Speech to DNC, in Prayer for America, p. 31 May 25, 2002

  • The above quotations are from A Prayer for America, by Dennis Kucinich .
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Corporations.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Dennis Kucinich on Corporations.
2016 Presidential contenders on Corporations:
  Republicans:
Gov.Jeb Bush(FL)
Dr.Ben Carson(MD)
Gov.Chris Christie(NJ)
Sen.Ted Cruz(TX)
Carly Fiorina(CA)
Gov.Jim Gilmore(VA)
Sen.Lindsey Graham(SC)
Gov.Mike Huckabee(AR)
Gov.Bobby Jindal(LA)
Gov.John Kasich(OH)
Gov.Sarah Palin(AK)
Gov.George Pataki(NY)
Sen.Rand Paul(KY)
Gov.Rick Perry(TX)
Sen.Rob Portman(OH)
Sen.Marco Rubio(FL)
Sen.Rick Santorum(PA)
Donald Trump(NY)
Gov.Scott Walker(WI) 		Democrats:
Gov.Lincoln Chafee(RI)
Secy.Hillary Clinton(NY)
V.P.Joe Biden(DE)
Gov.Martin O`Malley(MD)
Sen.Bernie Sanders(VT)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren(MA)
Sen.Jim Webb(VA)

2016 Third Party Candidates:
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Roseanne Barr(PF-HI)
Robert Steele(L-NY)
Dr.Jill Stein(G,MA)
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Page last updated: Feb 21, 2019