29.0°

Recently, Dr. Riki Ott gave a presentation at the University of Alaska Southeast, and I missed it. I am sorry I did so, because she brought up an idea, a U.S. Supreme Court decision, that I had never studied nor questioned. As an academic and historian, I should have done that.

Ott pointed out that in 1886, the court decided that business corporations are the same as an individual person, and have the same rights as individuals. But is that true?

An individual, as a single human being in the United States, has certain rights and obligations, such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion and the right to vote. But is it fair to say that a multibillion- dollar corporation is just the same as a small business or an individual when it comes to their rights, responsibilities and obligations?

To me, it would be like a high school football team facing an opposing front line made up of 800-pound gorillas, and saying it's all fair. They are all individuals.

In the business and political world, large corporations can spend millions of dollars in campaign contributions to political candidates. They can hire lobbyists who spend hours trying to persuade elected officials to promote and defend their interests. Most of us don't have the wealth, power and influence that corporations do. Is it fair? Is it a leave playing field?

I am sorry now that I missed Ott's presentation. She explained much more than the Exxon Valdex oil spill. What I read made me realize that it is time for some group, some organization to challenge the 123-year-old court decision.

Many years ago, I played guard on a high school football team. If I had had to look up one night and see a line of 800- pound gorillas facing me, I don't think I would have considered it a fair game. Should corporate organizations be given the same rights as private individuals, or should they regulated as a business.

Thank you, Dr. Ott, for opening an old man's eyes again to the real world, even though I wasn't there.

Wally Olson

Auke Bay