I think this is a huge issue: On Wed the SCOTUS will look at if campaign finance laws apply to corps

[rhett o rick]

IMO this could be one of the most important decisions of our lifetime.

On Wed, Sept 9, the SCOTUS will look at the case of Citizens United v. FEC (08-205), on constitutional issues surrounding federal campaign finance law as it applies to business corporations.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/30/us/30scotus.html

If Citizens United wins this, IMO there will be no restraints on corporate spending to influence elections.

The right to free speech belongs to citizens not corporations.

Another bad analogy: My freedom to speak is limited when my neighbor can drown me out with a megaphone. Same for corporations. If they have access to media that I don’t, then they are limiting my free speech. Their speech is drowning out my speech.

Doesn’t seem to me this is getting the attention it deserves.

[Sal Minella]

1. Isn't this the case the Supremes decided to have re-argued?

Has to do with the non-showing of the film trashing Hillary?

Bodes ill for the individual's freedom of speech, yes. Corporate free speech is great for selling tobacco to 12-year-olds but it doesn't belong in political campaigns at all, imo.

[rhett o rick]

4. IMO this will decide if the Constitution applys to citizens or CorpAmerica. nt

[bluesmail]

9. Yes, The Hillary movie. They are trying to argue that

books, like movies are free speech. Bill Moyers had an attorney who is representing CorpAmerica on. It was maddening.

[rhett o rick]

12. Can we blame Hillary for this.

JUST KIDDING

[The Wielding Truth]

2. Wow, I wish I could rec this a thousand times.

:applause:

[rhett o rick]

6. Thanks. Be sure to check out the other post on this also.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6483388&mesg_id=6483388

[rhett o rick]

3. Another post on this I didnt see until after I posted this. Please look there.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=6483388&mesg_id=6483388

[BlooInBloo]

5. Conservative court, predictable result. So-called "corporate personhood" stuff really blows.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

7. This is one of the biggest cases in our history and can be the death knell for Democracy.

Corporate Media is silent. Do I have to state the obvious BTW... I've been tweeting about this on Twitter

[rhett o rick]

8. Some say fascism creeps in like a fog. We will see. nt

[depakid]

10. One more big step toward third world socioeconomic status for Americans

One can only hope that somewhere down the line, the situation becomes so dysfunctional that this entire line of cases- back to Buckley v. Valeo is overruled.

[rhett o rick]

11. It seems that the reaction to dysfunction is tighter control. nt

[Danascot]

13. Is there even any question about how this court will rule?

I didn't think so.

[rhett o rick]

14. Not with me, but there are others in the other thread that seem to think the court

will do the "right thing". I think they will do the right-wing thing.

[Danascot]

15. The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again"

is almost 40 years old and we've learned nothin'.

[rhett o rick]

16. It will be a most interesting debate. nt

[Blackhatjack]

17. It really is a "thumbs up/thumbs down" vote on campaign finance reform....

IF Corporations are allowed to make campaign contributions there won't be any need to introduce campaign finance reform legislation in Congress.

Once the floodgates are opened on corporate $$ finding its way into the pockets of politicians there won't ever be any kind of meaningful campaign finance reform passed in this country.

[azul]

18. War + corporations + corruption = end of republic

"I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. As the result of the War, corporations have been enthroned. ... An era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people... until wealth is aggregated in a few hands... and the Republic is destroyed."
– Abraham Lincoln, 1864



Well, he saw it coming, too.