by Hannah McCrea, Online Communications Director, Constitutional Accountability Center.  This piece appeared originally on several other progressive blogs.

Have you ever wondered why corporations like Exxon Mobil have free speech “rights” under the Constitution when corporations can’t “speak,” and when the Constitution was written to protect “We the People” and never mentions “corporations”?   Do you worry that maybe, just maybe, the Supreme Court is putting the interests of corporate America over the rights of hard-working Americans?

If so, then you probably want to learn more about a piece of legal fiction called “corporate personhood.”   And you should probably start with this terrific lecture from that preeminent legal scholar, Stephen Colbert:

The Colbert ReportMon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c