Move to Amend: Citizens United is Just the Tip of the Iceberg

[LongTomH]

It’s been three years since the Supreme Court issued its outrageous decision in Citizens United vs. FEC, overturning the flimsy campaign finance protections afforded under McCain-Feingold law. The case opened the floodgates to billions of dollars perverting our elections, much of it completely unreported, and some amount even coming from foreign corporations and governments. The Court literally legalized bribery, and wealthy individuals and special interests took full advantage of it.

As shameful as that decision is, we must confront the sobering reality that it is only the tip of the iceberg. A small ruling elite (often succinctly described as the 1%) have stolen control of the country, and they are ruling over us. They use the façade of elections to legitimize the theft. And even when decent legislation is enacted, they use the Courts to overturn those laws. Citizens United vs. FEC is merely a deepening of the crisis of corporate rule.

At the crux of the crisis are two core legal doctrines. One is “corporate personhood,” a court-created precedent that illegitimately gives corporations rights that were intended for human beings. The other is “money equals free speech.”

The article goes on to give examples of how corporations have used 1st, 4th, 5th, and 14th Amendment provisions, as well as Commerce Clause and Contracts Clause Constitutional Provisions to evade regulations on their worst abuses.

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/01/20-5

[limpyhobbler]

1. k/r

[Mojorabbit]

2. kick nt