by:
Les Carpenter
Rational Nation USA
Purveyor of Truth
Putting all political, ideological, and social issues aside for the moment, and turning to the issue of money in politics, just how in the hell the SCOTUS ruled to strike down aggregate limits on federal campaign contributions escapes all logic. Aside from the fact that pull peddlers, and make no mistake about the fact that the more money contributed the greater the pull, will undoubtedly spend greater suns of money to influence politicians (think Koch and Unions) our counties long term rational self inters will increasingly be on sale to the highest bidder.
Essentially, America is now on sale to the biggest and deepest pockets of corporate American and labor unions. Everyone should take a long pause and consider the ramifications of this ruling. Especially since it will likely be followed by a complete elimination of ALL campaign contribution limits.
Frankly the thought of our nation's elected representatives and senators being influenced by, and our nation ultimately governed by the interests of the highest bidders should scare the hell out of every patriotic constitutional conservative, libertarian, and liberal in America.
The American Prospect - We need to start asking the question now, because if the Supreme Court strikes down all contribution limits, disclosure will be the justification.
There is going to be a lot of speculation about how the Supreme Court's decision in McCutcheon v. FEC to eliminate the aggregate limits on campaign contributions will affect the influence of big money in politics. That's because it serves to make an already complex system a little more complex, and there are multiple ways the decision could matter; on the other hand, it might make no difference at all. For the moment, I want to consider the role of disclosure, because I think it's going to become increasingly important in the near future, particularly if the Court goes all the way and eliminates all contribution limits. It should be said that in this case, they could have done that, but decided not to (only Clarence Thomas, in a concurring opinion, advocated eliminating all limits). But there is some reason to believe that the conservatives on the Court will go there eventually. And if they do, disclosure is going to be their justification: that as long as we know who's giving money to candidates, the risk of corruption will be small. That might strike you as reasonable, or it might strike you as absurd (you think the banks aren't getting their money's worth when they donate to every member of the committees that oversee them?), but it will be an argument that conservatives are likely to be making with increasing frequency in the coming years as they try to remove the last bricks from the crumbling edifice of campaign finance restrictions.
In his dissent in McCutcheon, Stephen Breyer wrote that "in the absence of limits on aggregate political contributions, donors can and likely will find ways to channel millions of dollars to parties and to individual candidates." He then ran through some scenarios—perfectly legal, if a little complicated—by which they could do that...
If you place the interests of the average middle class American, the interests of our nation's citizenry, regardless of economic strata they inhabit, and the long term economic health of our nation you will be VERY concerned with this ruling and what is quite likely to follow.
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Memeorandum
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Update 04/04/14 - Via
The Hill
“This case represents yet another missed opportunity to right the course of our campaign finance jurisprudence by restoring a standard that is faithful to the First Amendment. Until we undertake that reexamination, we remain in a ‘halfway house’ of our own design.” - Clarence Thomas
Justice Clarence Thomas is a man for whom I have a great deal of respect. As a black conservative it is undoubtedly arguable that he has occupied a minority slot in the black community. His unapologetic posture in the pursuit of his conservative constitutional principles is admirable. Respecting a man for his principled consistent beliefs however doesn't mean one must always agree with his positions.
Justice Thomas's position is absolutely correct, if considered
ONLY from a purely philosophical viewpoint. If all individuals had the same wherewithal to contribute in equal sums to political campaigns (as well as exerting equal influence by lobbying legislators) I would be the first standing up in support of Justice Thomas's view that all campaign limits ought to be eliminated.
However, as the above conditions have
never existed, nor will they
ever exist, elimination of gall campaign limits, a road Justice Thomas and presumably the court (by the natural extension of the recent court decision) is contemplating, would he a huge mistake. Why?
Because it tilts the paying field in the direction of the interests of monied individuals and corporate interests.
That's my take. What's yours?
Complete article
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Via:
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