Intro: "Thanks to the Supreme Court and Citizens United, the same big corporations and billionaires that destroyed our economy and caused millions of us to lose our jobs and homes, are spending obscene amounts to drown out our voices in elections and take over our government. But together, 'We the People' can set things right."
Portrait, Robert Reich, 08/16/09. (photo: Perian Flaherty)
Video: Amend 2012
20 January 12
hanks to the Supreme Court and Citizens United, the same big corporations and billionaires that destroyed our economy and caused millions of us to lose our jobs and homes, are spending obscene amounts to drown out our voices in elections and take over our government.
But together, "We the People" can set things right.
Stand with Robert Reich and join the movement for a constitutional amendment today.
Robert Reich is Chancellor's Professor of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley. He has served in three national administrations, most recently as secretary of labor under President Bill Clinton. He has written thirteen books, including "The Work of Nations," "Locked in the Cabinet," "Supercapitalism" and his latest book, "AFTERSHOCK: The Next Economy and America's Future." His 'Marketplace' commentaries can be found on publicradio.com and iTunes.
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Comments
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That said, I am more encouraged today than I was three years ago. Time to do the dirty work people.
Other than that, Well Said!
Today, set loose with no restraints by Citizens United and flush with cash, Corporate America is saturating the airwaves and other media with whatever message that they care to impose upon We The People! They drown out OUR small, less affluent voices by with sheer volume. Regardless of his message and the truth of his message, the he little guy no chance: he's & his message are overwhelmed by decibels and dollars!
A reversal by the Supremes is the only answer, and this will happen ONLY if the GOP's current five-justice choke-hold is weakened through future re appointments. No GOP candidates on the debate circuit has shown any interest in changing the situation or in making needed appointments, BUT OBAMA HAS! His appointments BOTH stand four-square against Citizens United!
Need I say more?
The amendment route will necessarily take time and face extremely stiff opposition on both Federal & State levels. Also, without a super majority in the Senate, any such attempt will certainly face rules delays and even a filibuster. There is no telling what difficulties will arise in the fifty states. This will be the longer route.
On the other hand, the next President will appoint as many as three new Supreme Court justices. The choice is simple: do you want progressive replacement justices who will almost certainly vote to overturn or do you want GOP/Corporate clones of Roberts, Alito, Thomas & Scalia?
For minding the Rights & Privileges granted by out Constitution, do we want Wall Street Wonks or or do we want We The People Justices.
Lets admit we made a mistake allowing these judges to make rulings outside what's allowed by law. They need to be made to follow the laws or be replaced. Anyone standing in the way of replacing them, needs a spotlight shown on them also. Those willing to travel outside the rules of the 99% should wear that badge everyday & everyplace they travel. Let the world know that these are the outlaws, not to be trusted without continual adult supervision. They cannot have their cake & eat it without wearing it on the outside.
But Thanks Robert for the nice cartoon.
"The Supreme Court has the authority to review acts of Congress and determine whether they are unconstitutiona l and therefore void."
This has been the law of the land ever since. What it says is that no matter what law is passed by Congress & signed by the President. IF IT IS CHALLENGED the Supreme Court can either affirm it or strike it down as unconstitutiona l.
You may wish that it were different, but Marbury ain't going anywhere - 'least not any time soon. To fix the Citizens United FUBAR, we need (a) To pass & confirm Bernie Sander's Constitutional Amendment AND (b) to re-elect Obama PLUS give him a majority in the House & a filibuster-proof majority in the Sanate. They can't overturn the Court with legislation, but Obama & Company CAN (& must) fill all upcoming Supreme Court vacancies with progressive justices . . . and then go for a reversal. .
Anyhoo, if I could be part of one arm of "Occupy", it would be the upcoming "Occupy the Supreme Court" re. "Citizens United", with effigies of Scalia and Thomas wearing dollar-covered suits and the giant symbols of Opus Dei on their robes.
I'll be following this one carefully -what's y'r bets that the owner-media) avoids it like the plague that they are!
One - get the money out of politics with public campaign financing or perhaps all donations should be only to a race, not to individual candidates.
Two - extend truth in advertising to politics and make use of libel, slander, and defamation of character laws when it comes to statements made in political ads. An informed voter is a Democratic voter, and a deceived voter is a right to vote denied.
Three - public disclosure of ALL political contributions and ALL finances of ALL candidates.
However, it should be noted and considered that Constitutional Amendments are not the best solution to such simple notions, which the no-so Supreme Court appears to be full of ... simple-minded notions, where common sense and responsible, honest determination would reflect Supreme leadership.
Also, people wanting this solution, as well as those pushing for a Constitutional Amendment should be aware that this fix will not solve the problem of unfair, undue influence in the election process, nor will it address corruptive, corporate inlfuences on the body politic.
The main reason is the disproportionat e wealth disparity that corporations and industry maintain.
Politicians will still be motivated to curry favor with the elite business class, regardless of this amendment.
Second: Most important is the fact that -- outside stolen elections -- people still have what they are either oblivious to or are convinced otherwise -- and maintain as a mistaken "political reality" that they do not -- which is control of the election process. They do, but act against their interests, essentially negating that fact.
Continued below...
For an unexplicable reason -- unrealistic hope (delusion), willful blindness, simple-minded comparison to marginally different alternatives, congealed partisan mindset, a degree of cowardice or conflict aversion -- good people, smart people cannot, or at least do not, produce an idea that really addresses the crux of political problems. So the avenue is reduced from the already difficult, to a different type of difficult, that even if successful will not solve the issue at hand, which is the inluence of money in politics and government policy.
The best solution is the mindset that exacts accountability to political failure. The solution is to view solutions in terms of political process. The answer is in Primary Elections. They are the only elections with choice.
And until the smart ones like Robert Reich, lead the way, in every way, and he in no way attaches himself to partisan "Party" politics -- even though in many ways he is right on issues -- he is more or less in the way. Because there are solutions that are imperative that are not properly addressed as long as he is pushing variety solutions; it's a fine idea, but essentially a fantasy, and more importantly, not the answer.
Continued below...
This circumstance has come about precicely because political partisans have fallen for and/or forwarded Party propoganda either about how the dire consequences of running a Primary Candidacy against Obama would lead to Republican advantage or the overly generous argument that Obama's failings have more to do with difficult circumstances and Republican tactis -- and that he will do better in his second term, rather than lacking essential qualities of leadership, or worse, that he is a complete fraud and politically-aligned tool of corporations and industry.
There are those, identifiable by their cheerleading thumb-clicks of approval or the red click of disapproval, without words to explain their discontent. They simply identify the theme: for their godly hero -- flawed only by difficulty of circumstance -- a mighty hoorah and thank you to those who support. And the contemptuous thumb down for anyone who dares defile their annointed one -- who suffers so greatly at the hands of the wicked Republican foe. So there will be no change, no alternative, such as Rocky Anderson, Justice Party. To think it is unrealistic.
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