Chlorophyll

They denied personhood to corporations, at least within their county. Read all about it in The Nation or right from the supporters.

Not to overplay this, but there is little wrong with our nation that doesn't have some connection to the supposed "personhood" of corporations. Democracy Unlimited and POCLAD will tell you all you can stand to hear about the subject. In summary, though, a corporation is a legal "person," despite being, well, a corporate body, not an individual... you know - a person. That means it has all the rights you do - to speech, protection against unreasonable search, etc - but the structure of the modern corporation means it does not have all your responsibilities. Culpability for crimes is diffused, and jail time or even substantial fines are big news specifically because they are so very rare.

There is an old French maxim: "The law, in its wisdom, prohibits both the rich and poor from sleeping under bridges." Likewise, under the law, you and Microsoft have precisely the same right to lobby Sen. Clinton. You and Disney have precisely the same right to lobby Sen. Hollings. You and GE have the same right to lobby Rep. Pelosi. You and Monsanto have the same right to lobby Rep. Sensenbrenner. And, yes, you and Halliburton have exactly the same right to lobby our dear Veep Cheney.

In other words, corporate personhood is to democracy as a box of broken glass is to a kindergarten class.

What Humboldt County has done is only one step, but it's a big one.