I thought for sure GEBBers would have heartfelt thoughts and opinions on this, but it's been almost a day now...

US Supreme Court overturns [corporate] campaign spending limit
— BBC World News

I own stock. I owned a (very) small corporation. I spent a good part of my career in corporate communications. I think profit is a good thing... but this scares the daylights out of me.

But then, I've never quite understood why corporations — that can live forever, have neither innate ethical nor moral underpinnings, that can be owned in all or in part by foreign interests — why corporations are considered to be individuals with all the rights and privileges granted by the Constitution.

Nor do I understand how and why “money” is exactly the same as “speech.” We each have one voice, and one vote. Yet we all have different and unequal amounts of money.

I see this as the beginning of the end of democracy as we know it... but then, I must be missing something... for few others seem to care.

So I'm open to anything that causes me go, “Oh, I see... that's great! What a wonderful idea!” TIA.

This seems to be sort of a liberal board, so maybe they don't want to talk about it.

Wow. Just wow....seriously, what are they thinking?? Could there BE any easier way to hide payoffs now? *shakes head* these actions speak volumes about the fears of those "in charge" and our current economic state. Have we no foresight anymore? At ALL?

Gem,

Are you kidding? Its back to Booze, drugs and hookers on both sides of the aisle.

Well then. . . . . I'm runnin for office!!!

No surprise here. Roberts and his crew have been on the "corporations are people" kick for a while. It's troubling, but the interesting part was the bedfellows. Cats and dogs. ACLU and the Plaintiffs.

will the congress now be wearing corporate logos on their ties? Maybe instead of the flag lapel pin, they will wear an Exxon logo.

quote:

This seems to be sort of a liberal board...

That's a first. The majority of complaints I receive is that it’s too Conservative.

But I don't think this is a partisan, liberal vs. conservative, Democrat vs. Republican issue. (For what it's worth, “corporations” covered by this ruling includes the AFL-CIO, , the NEA,the Sierra Club, Greenpeace and the like... as well as Exxon, Citibank and insurance companies.)

Money, when spent on advertising, generally wins elections. Money, when invested in Senators, Congresspeople and other elected officials, controls how they craft and vote on legislation.

Corporations have billions more to invest in assuring the election of, and in controlling the decisions made by, elected officials at any and all levels of government — far more dollars than you, I, and everyone else has put together. “Grass roots”? Forget it.

Eventually corporate dollars will select and own a President... who will appoint future Supreme Court Justices... who will be approved by already bought-and-paid-for Senators. George Orwell couldn't have created a better story.

Any entity, any medium capable of presenting an unscripted and uncontrollable independent opinion will be legislated out of business. Among others, say goodbye to Fox News, Rush Limbaugh and the Washington Times. Oh... and net neutrality.

All it will take is time and money. They already have the money.

The end justifies the means; the goals and objectives of any organization trump any political conviction it may have.

Paranoia? Perhaps. Time will tell. But not The News. (If you don't hear about it, it already happened.)

"If you can't drink their booze, take their money, sleep with their women and then vote against 'em, you don't belong in politics."

I respectfully disagree with you Mr. Ted.

Haven't the Unions and Special Interests been supporting the Democrats for the past 60 or so years.

The Unions receive paybacks for supporting Obama and aren't going to be taxed the 40% or so on their Cadillac health plans. That's a payoff in my book. Certain groups are already receiving special treatment. Provided they support their politician accordingly.

This is just a leveling of the playing field.

quote:

Originally posted by Ted E.:
Repetitive redundant quote removed by GEM That's a first. The majority of complaints I receive is that it’s too Conservative.

Lets just say the editing and censoring is very Conservative and the posts and posters positions are way more liberal.

quote:

“Grass roots”? Forget it.

Better re-think that statement. The Boston tea party was grassroots. Now we have a new
grassroots tea party. Never underestimate the power of the people.

"Special interests" support Democrats?
No monopoly on that lol.

quote:

Originally posted by Graham:
Never underestimate the power of the people.

Look at that!? There is hope for you!

quote:

Haven't the Unions and Special Interests been supporting the Democrats for the past 60 or so years...

Of course. And, to complete the stereotype, business has been supporting Republicans. But there have been some reasonable limits and other controls that applied to all non-human corporate contributors.

But as I said, this isn't about partisan politics. It's about selling out government to the highest bidders, to the companies with the biggest wallets. We just jumped from trying to buy an election with a few thousand dollars to virtually guaranteeing it by spending — if you wish — billions.

There are now no limits. Any corporation, no matter how large, can spend as much as they wish to support any candidate. If Walmart wants to tear down Glenbard West and replace it with a 24/7 superstore, they can legally spend as many millions as they wish to pad the D87 and village boards with trustees friendly to their cause.

No limits of any kind. If Wall Street wants to help elect a president and congress that will grant their every wish, they can spend as many billions as they wish to accomplish that end. If defense contractors want to keep selling war material, they can send as much as they like to send people to Washington who will keep us at war forever.

We've always had bribery in government — these days called “lobbying” — but the Supreme Court has now lowered the bar to zero and removed any sort of limit or control.

Please understand... this is not about Right or Left — it's about basic “one man, one vote” Democracy (or the lack thereof).

quote:

Never underestimate the power of the people...

And never underestimate the power of a military dictatorship or other corrupt government that has figured out how to keep its people suppressed.

”You can never have a revolution in order to establish a Democracy. You must have a Democracy in order to have a revolution.“
— Gilbert K. Chesterton

As Bob D. once said- "Money doesn't talk, it swears"

Or my fave - Money talks - Mine always says "buh-bye"

quote:

Originally posted by Ted E.:
And never underestimate the power of a military dictatorship . . . . . . that has figured out how to keep its people suppressed.

I think I've heard you say this in other ways over the past few years.

To say nothing of oppressed.

I'm OK with this. I just want that from now on when our politicians are bought they stay bought.

Actually this would work. You sell yourself to the highest bidder and you're his. So there is none of this hitting up different guys for money.

Who ever is in charge usually gets the most money. Since the Democrats took control of congress they have had higher political contributions than the Republicans. Money, corporations aren't so ideological they are motivated more by the access money gives them.