by Joeb in Politics
Posted on April 11, 2010 at 8:48 am
Last Modified on April 12, 2010 at 10:21 am
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The recent right-wing Supreme Court decision could destroy democracy for the next generation unless Congress and the President respond quickly and aggressively to regulate corporate influence in elections. Congressman Capuano, Senator Schumer and a few others have proposed a realistic and real solution to corporate – and union for that matter – influence in politics by requiring shareholder (and member) affirmation of any political expression by the interest group pretending to represent them. This solution has caught the timely attention of some journals and journalists.
Why don’t our State House members don’t take up the same initiative for state chartered corporations, unions and other interest groups. If it’s a good idea for national politics, why doesn’t this state show the nation how to do it here?
Politics is best enjoyed in groups, as individuals who believe in some cause or issue build allies and make friends in organizing, in meeting, in socializing – as we do on Somerville Voices. Why can the corporations who we “own,” the unions who we “join,” the churches and others who share our belief not be as accountable as others? Why can they ignore the will of their members, their sponsors, their believers in acting politically – and undermining our democratic system – by buying or bullying our politicians? And why do the politicians put up with it?
We have lots more political action in the state and city than at the federal level, in spite of the national media. Where are Senator Jehlen, Representatives Toomey, Provost, and Sciortino on holding state-chartered corporations to account to their shareholders for their political influence?
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Great piece, Joeb,
They used freedom of speech as a foundation to their ruling, did they not?
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Absolutely they did, and corporations have a responsibility – as corporations, chartered by the state or feds – to exercise that freedom, as authorized – and only as authorized – by their owners. The same could be said of unions, churches, or any multi-member organization. They are “persons” but they are not “people” and in that there is a splendid difference.
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