The Audacity of Hoping
Dunkirk NY – I had a completely different post in my head earlier today and over the last few days, and then just before lunch today I read the news on the Supreme Court’s decision on Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission. I do not generally write about matters political, but to me, the ramifications of this decision are so far-reaching, that in the deepest recesses of my mind I fear that this post may be one of the last I might ever be able to write without fear of political reprisal.
The combination of Scott Brown’s Senate victory in MA combined with this Supreme Court decision paves the way for this country to be overtaken by corporate interests in a politically-bought coup d’etat. I am willing to venture that inside of 50 years, national and international corporations, with the power the Supreme Court has handed them today, will have bought enough Senators, Congressmen, a President, and through their purchased President, a compliant Supreme Court, to be effectively running this country. The virulent residual hatred and suspicion of diverse and free thought that motivates the Tea Party constituency in this country is perfect fodder for corporations to easily manipulate. Conservative intellectuals will do the best they can to spin the “freedom and liberty/First Amendment” aspect of this decision, but the facts on the ground will eventually reveal the truth – that this decision robs the American people of their democratic freedoms. Companies with billions and billions of dollars at their disposal are ready to fund candidates who will appeal to the most base instincts in the electorate, and then manipulate them to vote in favor of every law or regulation they deem necessary to keep corporate America reaping in ever larger profits at the expense of the same poor slobs who voted for their puppet candidates. Continue Reading »
