I'm all for free speech, and I've criticized McCain-Feingold quite harshly. But this headline -- "Supreme Court appears poised to allow corporate contributions" -- worries me, because corporations aren't the independent entities they once were.
WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court's conservative bloc sounded poised Wednesday to strike down on free-speech grounds the nation's historic ban on corporations spending large amounts of money to elect or defeat candidates for Congress and the Presidency.
If the justices were to issue such a ruling in the next few months, it could reshape American politics, beginning with the Congressional campaign in 2010. For the first time, big companies and industries--and possibly unions as well--could fund campaign ads to support or defeat members of Congress.
For example, the health insurance industry would have a much greater ability to target for defeat members of Congress who supported a so-called "public option" for medical insurance. Banks and investment firms could oppose representatives who favor stricter regulation of the financial industry.
And far more money could flow into elections. Last year, the political parties spent about $1.5 billion on the 2008 campaigns, while corporations earned more than $600 billion in profits.
That's not what bothers me.
At the outset, let me say that corporations have free speech rights the same as anyone else. The right to free speech does not disappear on the filing of articles of incorporation, any more than it disappears upon matriculation at a college or university.
The problem comes when the state becomes so entangled with certain corporations that it's no longer clear whether the corporation is really an independent entity, and not an adjunct of the state. At some point, a certain line is crossed, and I think it's crossed when huge sums of money go from the taxpayers to a corporate entity in the form of bailouts. Corporations that are considered "too big to fail" and are therefore bailed out to prevent their failure can no longer be said to be independent entities. At that point, they owe their "success" not to the hard work or business acumen of their executives, but to the government, which gets its money from the taxpayers. Their free speech is not free speech in the usual sense, as it is tainted. It amounts to government speech. And if the bailed out corporations are allowed to donate money to political campaigns, it is inherently suspect, because it means that the taxpayers are unwittingly forced to donate money to political campaigns.
It's like, I can decide whether to buy a car from GM. And if GM is allowed to donate to a political campaign, I can take that into account in deciding whether I want to buy a GM car. But if my taxes are used to bail out the company, then I have no choice, and I am donating to whatever campaign it is. (And we all know what campaign that would be, don't we?)
I'm not even sure I approve of executives who work for bailed out companies being allowed to donate personally, because their salaries and bonuses are taxpayer subsidized. But this is ridiculous.
In fact, I'm so irritated that I feel like quoting a famous radical:
"to compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves, is sinful and tyrannical."
And I'm enough of an extremist that I'll agree with Thomas Jefferson.
Corporations have a free speech right to contribute to political campaigns, but to make me contribute is sinful and tyrannical.
posted by Eric on 09.27.09 at 08:19 PM
Comments
So buy a Toyota. They mainly corrupt Japanese elections.
But it is getting stinky that which brands you buy is now a political decision. Now about Ben and Jerry's ice cream.
For the first time, big companies and industries--and possibly unions as well--could fund campaign ads to support or defeat members of Congress.
It's supposed to be illegal, but I thought the unions already were funding political campaigns.
Bob Smith · September 28, 2009 4:16 AM
ATTENTION!! Senators Jay Rockefeller and Charles Schumer fight for the American people and the Public Option Tuesday Sep 29, 2009 http://bit.ly/Y2PRK SPREAD THE WORD!
Congress Has The Votes Needed To Pass A Public Option - TODAY http://bit.ly/TCq7O
Why A Strong Public Option Is Essential - By jacksmith - Working Class
It's not just because more than two thirds of the American people want a single payer health care system. And if they cant have a single payer system 77% of all Americans want a strong government-run public option on day one (86% of democrats, 75% of independents, and 72% republicans). Basically everyone.
It's not just because according to a new AARP POLL: 86 percent of seniors want universal healthcare security for All, including 93% of Democrats, 87% of Independents, and 78% of Republicans. With 79% of seniors supporting creating a new strong Government-run public option plan, available immediately. Including 89% of Democrats, 80% of Independents, and 61% of Republicans, STUNNING!!
It's not just because it will lower cost. Because a strong public option will dramatically lower cost for everyone. And dramatically improved the quality of care everyone receives in America and around the World. Rich, middle class, and poor a like.
It's not just because it will save trillions of dollars and prevent the needless deaths of millions more of YOU, caused by a rush to profit by the DISGRACEFUL, GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX!
It's not just because every expert in every field, including economist, and Nobel laureates all agree that free market based healthcare systems don't work. Never have and never will. The US has the only truly free market based healthcare system in the World. And as you all know now, IT IS A DISASTER!
It's not just because providing or denying medically necessary care for profit motivations is wrong. Because it is WRONG! It's professionally, ethically, and morally REPUGNANT!, Animalistic, VILE and EVIL.
THE REASON THE PUBLIC OPTION IS ESSENTIAL:
The public option is ESSENTIAL because over 200 million of you are trapped in the forest of the wolves. Which is the forest of the DISGRACEFUL, GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX! With no way out except through needless inhumane suffering, and DEATH. While the wolves tear at your flesh, and rip you limb from lib. Then feast on your lifeless bodies like a dead carcase for transplant parts.
At the most vulnerable times of your lives (when you were sick and hurting), millions of you have had to fight and loose cruel, but heroic battles. Fighting against the big guns of the DISGRACEFUL, GREED DRIVEN, PRIVATE FOR PROFIT MEDICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX! in the forest of the wolves. All because you have no place else to go. You have no other CHOICE!
But the PUBLIC OPTION will give you someplace safe to go. And it will give us someplace safe to take you. The public option will be your refugium (your refuge). Where the wolves cannot get at you when your down, hurting, and vulnerable. Where everyone who needs it can find rest, security, comfort and the care they need. Protected by the BIG GUNS of We The People Of The United States. THE MOST POWERFUL PEOPLE AND COUNTRY ON EARTH.
This is why it is so critical that we do not lead another 50 million vulnerable, uninsured Americans into the forest of the wolves, without the protections of a Strong Government-run public option. We The People Of The United States MUST NOT LET THAT HAPPEN to any more of our fellow Americans. If healthcare reform does not contain a strong public option on day one. YOU MUST! KILL IT. Or you will do far more harm than good. And millions more will die needlessly. Rich, middle class, and poor a like.
To those who would continue to obstruct good and true healthcare reform for the American people, and who seek to trap millions more vulnerable Americans in the forest of the wolves. We will continue to fight you. We are prepared to wage all out war against you, and will eagerly DESTROY! you. Time...is...UP! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED! No Co-op's! No Triggers! NO INDIVIDUAL MANDATES! without a Strong public option on day one.
Healthcare reform can be the GREATEST! Accomplishment of our time and century. A time when future generations may say of us, that we were all, AMERICAS GREATEST GENERATIONS.
BUT WE MUST ACT!
I therefore call on all my fellow Americans and the peoples of the World. To join us in this fight so that we may finish becoming the better America that we aspire to be for everyone.
SPREAD THE WORD!
I have been privileged to be witness as many of you fought, and struggled to take your first breath, and your last breath on this earth. Rich, middle class, and poor a like. Life is precious.
The Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler
Don?t bang your head!
So buy a Toyota. They mainly corrupt Japanese elections.
But it is getting stinky that which brands you buy is now a political decision. Now about Ben and Jerry's ice cream.