22 January 2010

Oh joy

Well, we can all bow down and thank the supremes.
Yep, they went and decided that there can be NO limits on what a corporation may spend to influence (buy) a Federal election now.  Of course there will now be new legal battles in state courts to make sure they can do the same at the local and state levels.
Remember folks, corporations are people too. Yes indeed. American corporations have had official "personhood" for some time now. This week the Supreme Court decided that as persons, they can not be limited in what they spend to influence (buy) our elections.
We can now expect to get even more propaganda and bullshit from our wonderful corporations come the election this fall. No doubt we will be flooded with "news" and "views" all thanks to the judges who just could not allow some "people" to be restrained. You see, this is all a "first amendment" issues, free speech you see. Well, with this decision, speech won't be all that "free" any more.
Actually, this should not be a surprise. It even should not have been unexpected either. Once the corporations were granted "personhood" status, this was just a natural outcome.  Disgusting? Damn straight it is. Disappointing? Well, not when you consider the make up of the court. Just look who the nine judges are. They are all bought and paid for, that is a given also. We do have the best damn government money can buy. And the corporations have plenty of money.
semper fi

11 comments:

Tao Dao Man said...

I am absolutely livid.
I do not believe the peeps understand the consequences of this. I have posted a few threads on this topic.
Our hero Gen. Smedley D. Butler is spinning in his grave.

JapanBryan said...

Charlie...

Couldn't have said it better myself. What the hell is going wrong with this country? But you are right---giving corporations the same rights as "persons" (but none of the responsibilities) way back in the late 1800s led to this ridiculous decision.
Anyway, man, I linked over here due to your great letter on Joe Bageant's awesome page. You've got a new reader, so keep up the fight!

John T said...

Right on Charlie! I too linked here from Joe Bageant, Bush II continues...

Anonymous said...

First amendment rights are as good as dead in America (and they aren't any better in Europe; a reference to the Geert Wilders trial in The Netherlands)but this is not as distrubing as the aspect of increasing complacency with which people view authoritarian government.

Distopia said...

So wth are we supposed to do?

John T said...

Yes, we are a violent and demanding sort, and it seems that often the violence is mis-directed.

I have witnessed a steady deterioration of the quality of life over the past 40 years. The reason is always layed at the feet of the "other" whether it is immigrants, Satan, or the gay movement to name a few.

I was born here so I guess the best I can do is urge others around me to see things for what they are, but the emotionally charged day to day environment and propaganda feed have most people befuddled as to what is wrong and the economic climate keeps them hanging on to dear life which puts issues such as these on a back burner.

It is for sure a vicious cycle that many are not well suited for, thus outbreaks of violence are inevitable.

We've found that no one person is our salvation with the election of Obama. That I hope is the first step back to sobriety though I fear the road forward will be extremely difficult.

ApleAnee said...

RealityZone said...

I do not believe the peeps understand the consequences of this.
-----------------

They probably don't care either. But you can bet next fall when the political/corporate ads begin to run on TV, everyone will believe every commercial that appeals to their base instincts, and vote accordingly. Just as planned.

So is it SCOTUS that is really the problem?

propax said...

So here's a start. Go to Rep. Alan Grayson's www.savedemocracy.net and sign the petition. Grayson says he has five laws he's introduced since the SCOTUS decision - not sure why five are needed, but at least there's some movement. He has John Conyers' support. Let him know he has yours.
A change in the laws governing incorporation would be welcome as well. After all, the government (we the people) give these corporations the right to do business. By amending the laws under which corporations are chartered, we should be able to curtail their interference with the democratic process. And while we're at it, let's change the language of the laws of incorporation to include a corporate responsibility not only to shareholders, but to employees and the communities in which corporations operate as well.
In the future, we need to push for a constitutional amendment specifically repealing corporate personhood.

Anonymous said...

Why not give Corporate persons the vore? Fair's fair ya know!

John T said...

Flobots and this video define our future:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLUX0y4EptA

doodahman said...

Charlie--

Isn't it funny (not) how after guys like Howard Dean and the Obama crew finally turned internet fundraising into a machine that allows small donors to provide funds that would equal or surpass fat cat money that all of a sudden now they bring in the new 800 lb. gorilla into the living room? Parity in election funding musta scared the bejesus out of the power elite. So, in rides Justice "Richochet" Roberts and the Hole in the Head Gang to the rescue. Hand me the barf bag....