In his sharply worded dissent, Justice John Paul Stevens wrote, “The court’s ruling threatens to undermine the integrity of elected institutions across the nation.”
“The Supreme Court in essence has ruled that corporations can buy elections. If that happens, democracy in America is over. We cannot put the law up for sale, and award government to the highest bidder.”
“Because speech is an essential mechanism of democracy — it is the means to hold officials accountable to the people — political speech must prevail against laws that would suppress it by design or inadvertence,” wrote Justice Anthony Kennedy for the majority.
In his dissent, Justice John Paul Stevens accused the majority of judicial activism and attacked the use of corporate personhood in the case: “The conceit that corporations must be treated identically to natural persons in the political sphere is not only inaccurate but also inadequate to justify the Court’s disposition of this case.”
Do you know how much money Exxon has paid in damages awarded from the Valdez spill? Zero, zip, nada. It is fascinating that a corporation gets all the “rights” that an individual enjoys, yet has none of the responsibilities. If a single person committed a similar crime, they’d be in jail!!
I’m just going to throw this out there……don’t the candidates still have to get the votes to win? Obviously, this ruling will have sweeping effects on primary elections, but I’m not seeing the big deal with regards to general elections. Especially when you consider the growing divide between the two sides.
This ruling doesn’t just apply to corporations, either. Organized labor now has the same ability to spend freely.
Can we just rename it the 5/4 court yet? We’re just a few steps shy of Wal-Mart running for president on this ruling.
What happens when the corporations start shelling out money to a candidate that their employees despise? The employees can only donate up to their personal cap in this case to vote with their wallets, while the corp. hands out millions without restraint.
Congress won’t even have to pretend to listen to their constituents anymore. I expect they’ll all be sporting cigna and exxon logos on their lapels next to the American flag before long.
America for sale! Who’s buying? I can’t believe this decision was made in the name of free speech.
In his sharply worded dissent, Justice John Paul Stevens wrote, “The court’s ruling threatens to undermine the integrity of elected institutions across the nation.”
“The Supreme Court in essence has ruled that corporations can buy elections. If that happens, democracy in America is over. We cannot put the law up for sale, and award government to the highest bidder.”
This ain’t good.
Corporations = people & money = speech
so…
Unlimited corporate money in elections = freedom of speech
And you thought elections were corrupt before!
“Because speech is an essential mechanism of democracy — it is the means to hold officials accountable to the people — political speech must prevail against laws that would suppress it by design or inadvertence,” wrote Justice Anthony Kennedy for the majority.
In his dissent, Justice John Paul Stevens accused the majority of judicial activism and attacked the use of corporate personhood in the case: “The conceit that corporations must be treated identically to natural persons in the political sphere is not only inaccurate but also inadequate to justify the Court’s disposition of this case.”
ps, Kennedy’s general statement has nothing to do with this case. Steven’s is right on.
t’s official -- we’re a Corporatocracy now.
…though some may call it “fascism.”
“Fascism should more appropriately be called Corporatism because it is a merger of state and corporate power” -- Benito Mussolini
Do you know how much money Exxon has paid in damages awarded from the Valdez spill? Zero, zip, nada. It is fascinating that a corporation gets all the “rights” that an individual enjoys, yet has none of the responsibilities. If a single person committed a similar crime, they’d be in jail!!
This is the weakness: corporations must be treated identically to natural persons. Sociopath’s can be committed against their will, can they not?
Here’s Keith Olbermann’s comment on this subject. Get a stiff drink before you watch it.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Buy N Large.
but, wouldn’t hegemony be a closer description?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hegemony
I’m just going to throw this out there……don’t the candidates still have to get the votes to win? Obviously, this ruling will have sweeping effects on primary elections, but I’m not seeing the big deal with regards to general elections. Especially when you consider the growing divide between the two sides.
This ruling doesn’t just apply to corporations, either. Organized labor now has the same ability to spend freely.
Just relax and let the titans of industry and finance make the trains run on time.
don’t worry…the free market will work itself out.
Can we just rename it the 5/4 court yet? We’re just a few steps shy of Wal-Mart running for president on this ruling.
What happens when the corporations start shelling out money to a candidate that their employees despise? The employees can only donate up to their personal cap in this case to vote with their wallets, while the corp. hands out millions without restraint.
Congress won’t even have to pretend to listen to their constituents anymore. I expect they’ll all be sporting cigna and exxon logos on their lapels next to the American flag before long.
I need a drink.
dropkick--
This drink brought to you by Rep. Joe Blow (sponsored by MegaBevCorp), the elected man with your interests at heart!
If you try out the Oberman clip. Get thru the Dred Scott part and pour another stiff drink. I think there’s time for two and reason to.
Ja Man. I read mr. Greenwald everyday, he is objective (as much as he can be).
http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/01/22/citizens_united/index.html
There is another ruling coming before the court in the next year making this ruling stronger. Did anybody catch that.
The Onion: “Supreme Court Allows Corporations To Run For Political Office.”