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General Discussion

porphyrian

(18,530 posts) Sat Sep 15, 2012, 11:30 AM Sep 2012

Is how you spend money really freedom of speech? [View all]

I believe the courts have ruled so. However, why do non-citizens, such as corporations, have this right?

If our rights extend to non-citizens, shouldn't freedom of speech also extend to people in other countries? Certainly violence shouldn't, but that's not what I'm suggesting.

If non-citizens are not entitled to our Constitutional rights, what separates corporations from other non-citizens, giving them Constitutional rights other non-citizens do not enjoy?

Discuss.

10 replies

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Highlight:

Is how you spend money really freedom of speech? [View all] porphyrian Sep 2012 OP

P.S. Corporate interests are execising their "freedom of speech" in determining the outcome of... porphyrian Sep 2012 #1

Heh, like a stone... n/t porphyrian Sep 2012 #2

Rights end with jurisdiction. Igel Sep 2012 #3

Good answer. Should corporations be legally treated as persons, though,... porphyrian Sep 2012 #7

Sure - then the more money you have, the more freedom bhikkhu Sep 2012 #4

Good point. Do the rich deserve more freedom of speech than the poor? porphyrian Sep 2012 #8

Speech Rights extend to corporations only insofar as cthulu2016 Sep 2012 #5

More good points. porphyrian Sep 2012 #9

Money = freedom of speech means the 1% have a bigger megaphone than the 99%. Which HiPointDem Sep 2012 #6

Good point. Look at the current Presidential campaign fundraising data... porphyrian Sep 2012 #10