February 1, 2010
Time for action
The Supreme Court did it. Despite Alito mouthing his disagreement with president Obama, corporations now have no restraints and, even worse, the decision declared that corporations do have First Amendment protection. Utter nonsense, but that is the law!
So, is the ruling so bad or are we simply forced to admit that corporations can't corrupt the system--someone beat them to it? A law professor at Drexel, Adam Benforado, wrote in a letter to the editor in the NYT that said, "Corporations already dominate the conversation. They are our employers, our suppliers, and our providers...they hire legions of attorneys to bring lawsuits to overturn statutes and regs that eat into their profits. They spend billions of dollars each year on advertising and marketing to make sure everyone gets the message."
I am, like you, upset, but we can't give up. Tonight from 5:00 to 7:00 at Madison's Great Dane on East Doty, Congressman Steve Kagen will discuss the impact of the court's unfortunate decision on incumbents. Have little people been locked out? Is it silly to give fifty bucks? Come for the discussion--it will, I predict, be lively. No charge at the door.
Meanwhile Scott Walker brags that he has raised almost $2 million for his race. Democrat Barrett? A paltry million and one-half. Tim John? Don't ask.
Sage? Not so much: We don't have enough money for a program that works--smaller classes. Outrageous! "Race to the top"? How about "Fall to the bottom"? Democrats control the legislative branch and should be held accountable. Find the money!
February 1, 1960. The sit-in movement began. A true movement that moved us toward the path of social justice. Students led the way.
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President Obama recent announcements regarding gifts to the coal and nuclear power industries, increases in war funding and the freezing of social welfare funding is indicative of the power of the recent Supreme Court ruling.
The corporations won and the people who control them will profit from the misery of the people. Since I am led to believe that corporations are required to seek profit above all else than deaths that occur as a result of their activities are legal and justifiable.
-Richard Kanak | Cherry Valley, Illinois | February 1, 2010
Sorry, I think Mr. Kanak is wrong on this one. The budget proposals are from a guy who ran on Hope and Change but just can't seem to muster the guts to do it. I honestly think that is all there is to it.
It is the same old tired stuff we had from both Bushes and from Clinton too. Talk a good line but go after the little stuff. Also the stuff that is easy pickings with a defuse constituency. Schools, national parks, old people, etc., etc.
No real reform, defense (even stuff the Pentagon DOESN'T want) off the table, try to triangulate even when you and your party were given a mandate to change the game, etc.
I swear, sometime between election and inauguration day they (who knows who, a secret cabal) must send these guys to the island from Lost and brainwash them stupid!
God help us, no one else is able.
-Griebnotz Doerkpfester | Egg Harbor, WI. | February 1, 2010
A breath of constitutional fresh air. Associations of people have a right to disseminate information into the public forum. Sounds like something straight from the mouths of our founding fathers. And, as usual, I am not required to listen.
By the way, Ed, you forgot to mention that these "corporations" that want to run issue ads are generally non-profit associations (Sierra Club, Right-to-Life) and associations of workers (labor/teacher unions). But please let us know when Goldman-Sachs or Proctor & Gamble start running issue ads!
-RMJ | Hudson, WI | February 1, 2010
I'm caught between poles on this one. On the one side, I see where a small group of people with enormous funding could push elected officials in ways that are not good for the people who elected them.
I do have a hard time drawing a line between unions, think tanks, advocacy groups like the NRA, the various ad hoc orgs that show up during election season and something like a newspaper, a television program or a wildly successful blog.
Are newspapers and other media outlets not corporations which seek to influence elections? What's the difference between "The Friends of So and So" running a spot decrying some failing of So and So's opposition and Fox News screaming that Obama is a socialist or Air America blasting out its own propoganda?
Honest question - I'm not claiming to have the answer. How do we muzzle political powermachines under the guise of protecting elections and leave folks like Glen Beck and Rachel Maddow to their own conscience?
-Jeff | Madison | February 2, 2010
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