Reclaim Democracy!

The ACLU on Commercial Speech and Kasky v. Nike

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(and our responses to ACLU claims) The ACLU statement appears as published on ACLU.org (2003) Editor’s Note: While this statement was written by the ACLU’s Northern CA chapter, the national headquarters directed people to it as representing the national ACLU’s position on Kasky v. Nike. The ACLU statement is followed by our rebuttals to specific […]

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Stop Calling It “Free Trade!”

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Where are those politicians and “free market” think tanks that object loudly to “limiting choice” or advocate for “states rights” when it’s small businesses who are disadvantaged? Apparently they don’t like to confront the fact that political power now determines which markets will or will not be free. “Free market” mythology aside, the core reason for citizens to reject any new trade agreements that expand corporate power is the creation of international commerce rules that trump democracy. But in doing so, citizens should not concede the false premise of these pacts being about “free trade.”

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Drug Patents, Corporate Profits and AIDS Deaths

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In 2003, one country voted against a U.N. resolution on access to drugs in global epidemics such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The resolution emphasized that the failure to deliver life-saving drugs to millions of people who are living with HIV/AIDS constitutes a global health emergency. One hundred sixty seven countries voted in favor of the resolution. The single vote against it was cast by the United States.

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