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1/25/2010

Monday Meanders 1-25

I can't believe this is the last Monday in January already. Where does the time go?

I am stunned and disappointed at what the Robert's Court has done. I don't normally do politics here - and I'm not sure that reacting to a decision of the Supreme Court is actually political - but I feel I have to say something. We - you, me, all of us, every single one of us from any and all walks of life - have been sold down the river. Never, at any time in history, have our freedoms been more in jeopardy. Corporations have, essentialy, been given carte blanche to buy politicians. They can now contribute unlimited funds to political candidates. If you don't think that will change the landscape, think again. If that doesn't change, if the Constitution isn't amended to reflect the realities of changes in our culture, if we don't take certain rights given to Corporations by the Roberts Court away, we will wind up with what everybody jokes about - the best government that money can buy.

Having said all that, I can't help but go back to it in my mind - I don't think I can say anything else right now.

I hope you have a good Monday.

Ndinombethe.

16 comments:

Unknown said...

Time flies, that's for sure.
Hope you'll have a good Monday too!

Big Mark 243 said...

I am glad to see that I am not the only one who caught that. That decision was as frustrating to me as the rush to making law out of the Patriot Act.

PattiKen said...

Trying hard to hold on to my basic optimism, I'm hoping that this will be the straw. We have suffered so many erosions and inappropriate intrusions in politics in recent years. Perhaps this will drive the point home, and there will be a backlash that brings about a return to sanity.

Sage Ravenwood said...

In my almost 45 years, I've never been so afraid of what may be coming in our political history as I am now. I've never seen so much disregard for the American people, the working class and our president. Something is off kilter in a big way. (Hugs)Indigo

Shadow said...

happy monday to you too. but i'm not sad to see january go. its like a big hurdle to get over - the return to normalcy, recovering from the holidays, the start of the school year, getting into the swing of things in a new year, remembering to write the correct year, the list seems never ending, heee heee heeee. and i've nearly made it...

moneythoughts said...

Yes Lou, there is a Santa Claus! And for corporations both domestic and foreign, that Santa Claus comes in the form of Justice Roberts and his four conservative friends that sit on his court. This as they say on Sunday afternoons, "is a game changer."

There is on the other hand an interesting backlash to this ruling. A number of corporate CEOs who routinely get hit up for large campaign contributions have told Congress that something needs to be done to correct the new reality of this Supreme Court decision. They realize that they will be hit up for money from now until the cows come home.

I think something may be done along those lines as you correctly pointed out, corporations can now give those politicians that see things their way, unlimited amounts of money for their political campaigns.

I sure hope enough people realize what this means to their vote.

Heather said...

You are absolutely right, in everything that you said.

And I cannot BELIEVE that it's my wedding week already! YAY! :)

Happy Monday, darlin.

Loraine said...

I don't think I've ever been so angry at the courts, and I've been angry at them before. Even more bloody annoying is how the media is politicizing the hell out of this- and how they can do something so dreadful and the majority of Americans won't pay the slightest bit of attention.
They called it a "blow to the Obama administration." It;s a blow to everyone in the country- except the corporations and politicians! But you can drop a nuke on New York, call it a "blow to the Obama administration," and a bunch of idiots will shout, "Yay! We hate Obama so that's GOOD!"
When I heard it on the news, I told my 12 year old (who I was driving to school), "Learn French, get a degree in something good, like engineering, and move to Canada!"

Coal Miner's Granddaughter said...

I've been scared for our country for quite some time. I feel like we're in our decline and this Supreme Court ruling, in my opinion, clinches it.

It is frightening.

Joyce-Anne said...

You said it quite well, we will have "The best government money can buy".

witchypoo said...

So, it's legal now? I thought Obama was better than that. My bad.

Unknown said...

NicoleB: It was not bad, for a Monday.

Big Mark 243: Yeah, but what do we do about it?

PattiKen: Backlash!! Let it start right here!!

Indigo: Off kilter. One of my favorite expressions. And true.

Shadow: I'll be glad to see the backside of January.

Moneythoughts: I don't think they do, yet. And the media is strangely silent about it all.

Heather: Yay for your wedding!!! Good Luck!!!

Loraine: Ah, yes. Move to Canada while the borders are still open.

Coal Miner's GD: It is that. BACKLASH!!! Let it Start Here!!!

Joyce-Anne: Would that there was no reason for eloquence.

Witchypoo: Not Obama's call. It's the Supreme Court, which Bush swung to the Right with his appointments.

Holly said...

I'm with you. I signed a petition against this a couple days ago.

Julie said...

Ugh. I just don't even want to turn on the news any more. I don't see how any average person doesn't see the potential for problems in this...

I have for a very long time thought the two party system is a very unhealthy one. A few people have way too much power in our government, and it is obvious that many of our politicians have completely abandoned any pretense that they are in DC (or the state legislatures) to represent their actual constituencies.

Perplexio said...

Corporations can't vote, individuals can. Rightly or wrongly our Constitution guarantees freedom of speech-- should that really be limited to individuals?

The case that started all of this had to do with a non-profit group funding an anti-Hillary Clinton movie. The movie was never aired as it was considered a violation of the McCain-Feingold Campaign Finance reform act. The refusal to air the film is what started the case.

I understand your concerns and I do have reservations about the decision myself. But perhaps this can work to the advantage of Americans, maybe if Obama really follows through on his commitment to greater transparency-- sure corporations will be able to donate politically without restriction, but maybe if they give full transparency to their political contributions we Americans will be able to see which politicians are in which corporation's pockets. (ie. "I'm George Bush and I support this message... this message was brought to you by BP, Amoco, and Exxon/Mobil")

Unknown said...

I can't even start. Every time I see what is happening, I'm gobsmacked with wondering where people's senses have gone.