Excerpt: "This is not democracy. This is plutocracy. And that is why we must overturn Citizens United."
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), 03/28/11. (photo: Getty Images)
Of the Rich, By the Rich, For the Rich
26 June 12
he Supreme Court on Monday reaffirmed its disastrous 2010 ruling that lifted limits on corporate spending to influence elections. Justices reversed the Montana Supreme Court and struck down a state law. "The U.S. Supreme Court's absurd 5-4 ruling two years ago in Citizens United was a major blow to American democratic traditions. Sadly, despite all of the evidence that Americans see every day, the court continues to believe that its decision makes sense," Sanders said.
"In recent weeks, multi-billionaires such as the Koch brothers and Sheldon Adelson have made it clear that, as a result of the Citizens United decision, they intend to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to buy this election for candidates who support the super-wealthy. This is not democracy. This is plutocracy. And that is why we must overturn Citizens United if we are serious about maintaining the foundations of American democracy.
"I intend to work as hard as I can for a constitutional amendment to overturn this disastrous Supreme Court decision.
"In his famous speech at Gettysburg during the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln talked about America as a country ‘of the people, by the people and for the people.' Today, as a result of the Supreme Court's refusal to reconsider its decision in Citizens United, we are rapidly moving toward a nation of the super-rich, by the super-rich and for the super-rich. That is not what America is supposed to be about. This Supreme Court decision must be overturned."
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Comments
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Perhaps more people outraged by where the money comes from would persuade/force the SCOTUS to reconsider allowing unlimited spending. Not that they would do anything about it, I think a constitutional amendment is the surest way to make sure no branch can act confused as to the will of the majority. Congress should provide at least temporary legislation to give us first, no secret sources, second, spending limits if they can be done to withstand any SCOTUS changes.
"The danger to America is not (solely) Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of entrusting an inexperienced man like him with the Presidency... Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince. The Republic can survive a Barack Obama. It is less likely to survive a multitude of Idiots such as those who made him their president." - A U.S. Marine
Stweart looked at him quizzically and said, "This is such a non-question.Di d anyone ask us in 2000 if Americans were ready for a moron?"
Apparently we are getting the best government money can buy, so what does that make the majority of Americans?
You know trading with the enemy etc also....
Since only about 50% of elegible voters show up at the polls, it's time to do our part to make sure EVERYONE votes.
Congress pass a law that states that All TV channels must GIVE an established amount of time to all candidates for national office. If any candidate BUYS more time, then the selling channel must GIVE n equal amount of time to all the other candidates. Only by equalizing the time that each candidate can we take the need for so much money needed to run for office.
The problem is not entirely the do-nothing corrupt Congress. The problem now is the corrupt Supremes who in their activist moves to legislate from the judiciary will never interfere in the purchase of elections.
Besides, the networks pay us (you included) to be allowed to function. Who exactly are they broadcasting for?
Check our the Move to Amend website and sign their petition to get on the database for future advocacy at the local, state and national level.
Don't worry too mjuch about the thumbs down - I think it reflects people being dismayed by the reality you are pointing out. Well, I hope.
Judges and politicians have access to inside information and should divest their holdings before they enter office. If they want to invest In stocks then let it be government bonds that will perform as long as the government does well.
Term limits might also improve the government structure. These lifers in politics have lost touch with reality.
Corporations are kingdoms run by self-serving CEOs and Boards. Workers have no vote, they are "human resources" (I hate that term) just like buildings and machinery are resources.
The next problem with American Society is the level of education most of us have. The average IQ is 98. The average educational level is High School. While only 8.9% has masters degrees where the focus is on the study of factors involved in understanding issues.
With the majority either incapable or unwilling to look at the complex issue we call Society, and always willing to accept anyone's quick fix, we as a minority - the educational elite - should be very concerned about what messages they are receiving and how they are interpreted.
Hi,
The GOP agenda is to give big tax cuts, loopholes, deregulation, & Corporate welfare to Millionairs and Billionairs and that will inspire job growth with a better economy.
I say instead of trickle down, how about this:
Give 300 million American citizens each one million dollars. It is fair because it gives everyone rich and poor the same amount.
The rich can pocket their million and everyone else will use theirs to 1. Create Jobs in the USA. 2. End the housing crises. 3. End poverty in the United States of America.
If you believe trickle up will stimulate the economy please sign my petition.
That's why I created a petition to The Nevada State House, The Nevada State Senate, Governor Brian Sandoval, The United States House of Representatives , The United States Senate, and President Barack Obama, which says:
"Let us try trickle up economics"
Will you sign this petition? Click here:
http://signon.org/sign/trickle-up-or-trickle?source=c.em.cp&r_by=1608591
Thanks!
Thanks
I think the answer is outside the Beltway. Whatever action we take, they all have to feel marginalized and insignificant.
It's really time we go on the O-ffense for a change, no more waiting to see what they throw at us!
We really need an across the generations full-throttle resurgence of the Occupy movement asap.
The crux of the problem is the definition of Person in the 14th amendment. The 14th amendment removed a key word needed to describe persons as those created by GOD, and corporations as those created by PEOPLE (or ficticious).
The proposed amendment will not correct the 14th amendment, and while corporations may be restricted from making donations directly to campaigns, it will not stop the redirection of money from private individuals or corporations to non-profit agencies, who then contribute to campaigns.
Let's not forget that the Catholic Church presently campaigns from the pulpit.
Please fix the 14th amendment directly. It only needs one word put in.
Definition of PLUTOCRACY
1
: government by the wealthy
2
: a controlling class of the wealthy
Exactly on point;look at the 400 million projected to be spent purchasing radical right pols by the Koch brothers. 400 million, that is insane for a supposed democracy.
Egyptian citizens stood up for their rights & said hell no we are not going to take it anymore. They stand as a shining example of the power of regular folks to commit to & bring about necessary change. I am absolutely ready to stand up to the corrupt forces that are bringing this country to its knees.
"They say you want a revolution, well you know,we all want to change the world, you tell me that its evolution."
Time to evolve & save my country.
Dear ...:
If you are interested in saving democracy in this nation, please take some action soon.
You should have by now realized that Supreme Court decisions opening up political campaigns to saturation by corporations threaten the very existence of democratic principles.
Use your power to regulate interstate and international commerce and to make tax law to put an end to this anti-democracy movement. Congress has the power to do the following:
* State in law that all money held by a corporation is the legal property of the employees, who earned it, or the shareholders, who own the company.
* Make it a punishable crime for any executive or director to use that money for any purpose not directly related to the core function of the business without the express approval of those who own the money.
* Money spent on political campaigning and lobbying must be approved by popular vote by those (employees or shareholders) who own the money designated to be spent.
(to be continued)
* Executives must specify how much money is to be spent, where it is to be spent and on what specific issues. Those who vote “no” on spending corporate money for political purposes get their fair portion of the specified amount in salary or stock dividend.
* Money spent on political campaigns or lobbying does not qualify as a business expense and therefore cannot be a tax deduction.
No one should be forced to contribute to a political cause in which he/she may not approve, which is exactly what happened at Enron where employees and shareholders saw money they rightfully owned used to destroy both groups. Under this proposal, corporations can continue to participate, as per the SCOTUS decisions, but such participation would be by only those who agree with the corporate objective. Corporate executives and directors can use their personal money to support political causes, not shareholder/emp loyee money they do not own.
And, there’s no need to mess with the Constitution with more amendments.
A similar proposal was made to Congress after the disastrous Citizen United decision only to see a Democratic Congress do nothing, then suffer a serious defeat in the 2010 elections. Now we have another anti-democracy decision extending Citizen United to state campaigns.
This time do something before our democracy is completely eradicated.
Unfortunately, the influence of the TV indu$try is $o great that it would be a $tretch for the whores in Congress to pass laws regulating the amount of TV advertising candidate$ can buy.
So, Bernie Sanders, good luck getting these millionaires to go along with you to enact legislation reversing what the Mad Dog faction in the Supreme Court hath wrought.
BTW, you notice most of these Members of Congress were NOT millionaires when they got to Washington. But with payoffs from Our Corporate Nasters, and with illegal money made via insider trading on the stock market, they leave, if they ever do, pretty well fixed for their next incarnation --through the revolving door, working for the same corporations they were supposed to regulate via legislation.
Yuck, yuck!
Time to ban them for working for any one they have been funded by.
How long will he last I wonder...the next target of corporatism...I 'd expect they would stop at nothing to remove him. Any amount of money...
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