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The Corporate Coup is Complete

TimK Jan 21, 2010 21 Comments

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE60K3SK20100121

SCOTUS

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21 Comments

blt2lst

about 10 years ago 

America for sale! Who's buying? I can't believe this decision was made in the name of free speech.

TimK

about 10 years ago 

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."

Carl

about 10 years ago 

"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."

Bret

about 10 years ago 

This ain't good.

Resolutionary

about 10 years ago 

Corporations = people & money = speech

so...

Unlimited corporate money in elections = freedom of speech

And you thought elections were corrupt before!

Bret

about 10 years ago 

"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."

Bret

about 10 years ago 

ps, Kennedy's general statement has nothing to do with this case.  Steven's is right on.

Bret

about 10 years ago 

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

TimK

about 10 years ago 

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!!

adam

about 10 years ago 

This is the weakness: corporations must be treated identically to natural persons. Sociopath's can be committed against their will, can they not?

frank nichols

about 10 years ago 

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

zra

about 10 years ago 

Buy N Large.


but, wouldn't hegemony be a closer description?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hegemony

WizardOfId

about 10 years ago 

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.

Dave Sorensen

about 10 years ago 

Just relax and let the titans of industry and finance make the trains run on time.

zra

about 10 years ago 

don't worry...the free market will work itself out.

dropkick

about 10 years ago 

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.

davids

about 10 years ago 

dropkick--

This drink brought to you by Rep. Joe Blow (sponsored by MegaBevCorp), the elected man with your interests at heart!

frank nichols

about 10 years ago 

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.

Carl

about 10 years ago 

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

frank nichols

about 10 years ago 

There is another ruling coming before the court in the next year making this ruling  stronger. Did anybody catch that.

Paul Lundgren

about 10 years ago 

The Onion: "Supreme Court Allows Corporations To Run For Political Office."

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