The Supreme Court has ruled that a corporation, including a one person corporation can give as much money to support their preferred candidates.  Though, as individuals we still have our limits on what we can give.  Already, since the reading of the ruling, over 100,000 corporations are being formed. This is all about the First Amendment, though, we can only guess as to why certain members of Congress feel they need hundreds of millions of dollars to become an elected official.  It seems so similar to an athlete on steroids.  "I don't have the right stuff to win and make my money for my friends, so,  will let them toss in a few million to make sure I get there."

Since the First Amendment will be coming up a lot, I first suggest you read the rules for creation and passing of an amendment.  Then read this simple text from what some would say was a simpliar time, but we know it was not.  They were risking their lives and they didn't take deferments.


Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

As a true First Amendment (click the link, the words are powerful) buff, I, in some way see the ruling as proper.  But, as a citizen I feel disgusted.  It is worse, as many have said, as bad as the Dread Scott Case.  To see a number of Senators extolling the virtues of this First Amendment win, saying that for too long we have kept proper voters from having a say in the election - meaning any corporation, including those with up to 49% of assets off of our shores.

Luckily, this is truly a non-partisan issue.  For people who are strict constitutionalists, this is a victory, but, as many have said, it is correct, but "immoral."  A number of dissenters from each party quipped that no longer would it be the Senator from Nebraska, but the Senator from Exxon - and that was the company cited as being left out of the election process.

With this being a non-partisan issue, there is a already a slew of bills which will help make this more palatable, even by those who agreed with the decision.  Some would like to open up the Constitution by either passing an amendment or, God forbid, having a Constitutional Convention.

It will take most of us some time to see how this takes the meaning of your vote and gets rid of it, it doesn't matter.  You can't fight a $1,000,000,000 in company funds to get a president elected.  It just can't happen, or so I fear.  I plan to look closely at how this turns out.  But, first I have to get the disgust out of my mind be hearing the most inane Republican Senator saying that these companies have been left out, and this was a Senator who in an interview, still thought a poll tax was fair. 

United States citizens, hang on, it is going to be a bumpy ride.  And, I believe that this kills any health care changes, any potential for a draft so it isn't just the poor fighting - no, let me correct that statement.  It is way off base.  Many of our troops joined and they come from everywhere, but the other 85% U.S. Army, come from the inner cities.  I apologize deeply for implying I know why someone volunteers for military duty.  I assume, that most of it is out of love of country, but much of it is out of needing to leave the places where the elected try never to go, until President Obama. 

I listen to many of the super patriotic, have your flag pin on or you are a communist, brag about how long this democracy - the Grand Experiment, has lasted.  Well, it is getting up there with how long many of the great empires lasted.  We are not immune to being taken over with by big business.

And, for me, this is a tough place, I am all for the First Amendment, and I have listening to those who say it does not fall under that amendment, but I am not sure.  So, this is why we can the three branches of our government.  There is a lot the Congress can do to make this more palatable, such as disclosing how much money was spent by which company on adds which did not claim to endorse a particular person, but were geared to all of his/her policies.  Can it happen, depends on people like Florida's Congressman Alan Grayson.  Last week he had already written for consideration five bills to go before committee in the House, they are in his words, from his Congressional Web site, plus, enumerated on at least six talk shows:

Here are the bills that Congressman Grayson has introduced, and what they aim to accomplish:

1)  The Business Should Mind Its Own Business Act (H.R. 4431):  Implements a 500% excise tax on corporate contributions to political committees, and on corporate expenditures on political advocacy campaigns.
2)  The Public Company Responsibility Act (H.R. 4435):  Prevents companies making political contributions and expenditures from trading their stock on national exchanges.
3)  The End Political Kickbacks Act (H.R. 4434):  Prevents for-profit corporations that receive money from the government from making political contributions, and limits the amount that employees of those companies can contribute. 
4)  The Corporate Propaganda Sunshine Act (H.R. 4432):  Requires publicly-traded companies to disclose in SEC filings money used for the purpose of influencing public opinion, rather than to promoting their products and services.
5)  The Ending Corporate Collusion Act (H.R. 4433):  Applies antitrust law to industry PACs. 

The Supreme Court decision in Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission legalizes the use of corporate funds in political campaigns, striking down campaign finance laws that date back more than a century.  Congressman Grayson introduced the bills on January 13th, in anticipation of the Supreme Court's ruling.  Each of the five Grayson bills is clear and concise; none is longer than four pages.

“By gutting the 100-year-old Tillman Act ban on corporate contributions, the U.S. Supreme Court has opened the door to political bribery and corruption on the largest scale imaginable. As Teddy Roosevelt said at the time, 'property belongs to man, and not man to property.'  That's why we have federal election laws, and that's why we need them, both then and now,” Congressman Grayson said.

I urge you, and yes, I know how busy we all are, but read the Constitution by yourself or with your class or your children.  You don't have to support the decision or be against the decision to show what a truly major ruling this is for these United States of America.  And, if in the District of Columbia, go and look at this magnificent document.  And see why people such as I who hold that First Amendment dear still fear the outcome of the ruling.  It changes more than a century of Constitutional law.  Things can be correct and honestly so, yet they can hurt a nation and its people beyond what most of us believe.  

Have this talk with your friends, family - this isn't politics - this is our electoral process at stake. This is a very good starting point: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution.html, but, for more history, go back to before the Constitution was the Government for the people and by the people.  There is no left or right when reading these documents, it is about becoming informed and turning off the radio of the bunch of entertainers who have made a perfect job: they give you someone to hate because of our lot in life.  And, they lie and distort the truth.  And the worst thing about it, is that the voters do NOT challenge them on it.  We do not do our critical thinking to see if what they are saying makes sense, follows their past voting record - such as former Governor Palin, probably a very nice person, yet, no one checked to see that she begged for that bridge to no where until the light shined on her and she was against it, and trust me, this type of thing knows no party.  It is the festering puss of an election system finally broken.

Please, take some time, read with your kids, your spouses, yourself, and keep your politics out of it and enjoy the wonderful language of these documents.  Imagine a document, which a country actually runs on, beginning this way:

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

Some words from a man who is passionate in his loyalty to this country.  Please watch: http://tinyurl.com/yemmx2y