From today's New York Times:
Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader and a longtime opponent of that law, praised the Court’s decision as “an important step in the direction of restoring the First Amendment rights of these groups by ruling that the Constitution protects their right to express themselves about political candidates and issues up until Election Day.”
Yeah, a huge victory for political liberty. Exxon now has the same right to contribute to candidates that I do. I donate $100 and Exxon donates $1 million. I stake a campaign poster in my yard. Bank of America buys $3 million in television advertising for the opposing candidate. Sounds fair, right?
The notion that this ruling somehow protects the right of political association might have some slight plausibility if American corporate governance was not so inherently corrupt - if corporate executives were actually being held accountable by their shareholders or even their corporate boards. But the reality is that decisions on to whom a corporation will contribute and how much will be contributed will be made, without consultation with shareholders - just as most other significant corporate decisions are made today. And if you think this is a good thing, then I simply point to the bonehead decisions made by the crooks and incompetents who have clawed their way into the executive suites of our major financial institutions much to the detriment of ordinary Americans' pocketbooks, prospects and peace of mind.
A glimpse into the future of our politics is provided by a story in today's Washington Post: "GOP's Murkowski Takes on EPA." This is the latest in a series of stories describing how my state's senior senator is bent on repealing federal regulations that make a finding that greenhouse gasses endanger the public health and welfare. Senator Murkowski will propose an amendment to repeal the regulations. Her amendment to repeal the regulations was drafted with the assistance of the utilities and energy producers who are the subject of the EPA findings. Several of the lobbyists and companies involved are political contributors to the Senator.
Senator Barbara Boxer commented:
"The Murkowski amendment is a direct assault on the health of the American people," Boxer said, adding that it is "an unprecedented move by a United States senator and her co-sponsors to overturn a health finding made by health experts, and scientific experts, in order to side with the special interests."
Well, you ain't seen nothin' yet, Babs.
2 comments:
Well said, Elmer.
Well, f---. I can't stsnd it, two bad days in a row--first the irony of Ted Kennedy's seat going to a republican and potentially derailing health care, and now this. Why does everything in this country seem to be ordered for the good of big business? As if they EVER made socially responsible decisions. Behind it all lies that lamentable philosophy that people pursuing their own wants leads to the good of greater society--just get the government out of the way, and eden follows. Shit, look at Prince William Sound and Exxon...
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