Given the general hatred of campaign financing practices in the United States, I thought this petition would get some signatures here.
http://www.alfranken.com/index.php/s...f/CKFCUNASLMO1
Given the general hatred of campaign financing practices in the United States, I thought this petition would get some signatures here.
http://www.alfranken.com/index.php/s...f/CKFCUNASLMO1
citizens united should die in fire... but cant we do it without an amendment?
for those of us who are not american or are not interested in politics, what exactly is "citizens united"?
It's a landmark 2010 supreme court case in which the court essentially deemed money from corporations and unions as "free speech", unleashing the floodgates to huge campaign financing from special interests on both sides through "super PACs" (political action committees). It's the reason we saw records broken across the board for election spending this year.
Signed the petition, I think it's the worst decision of our generation thusfar, tying the gov't and special interests closer than ever is a terrible thing for democracy.
Last edited by Dhurn; 2012-11-15 at 11:32 PM.
It's a good move that I hope people will support. Unfortunately politicians love that money, so there's not much chance they'll listen to the people (the whole reason why it should be overturned).
Quite a few republicans are extremely unhappy with the way citizen united opened up corporate spending. Worst part of these super PAC is how the money can be funnelled out of the PAC without any traces. Anyone who watches Colbert Report saw the the Super PAC --> 501c4 SuperPAC --> 501c4 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colbert_Super_PAC)
Basically all the money from these Super PAc can be given to a 501c4 (which is non public) but the Super PAc has to declare it. So the first 501c4 can donate to a 2nd 501c4 without any public records so the money is totally lost. Even the IRS cannot track it.
NO MORE DAMN AMENDMENTS!
If we can't get enough agreement to make it into a law, why the hell would an amendment do any better? Amendments are for big things, core values, more philosophical concepts than particular restrictions/freedoms.
Human progress isn't measured by industry. It's measured by the value you place on a life.
Just, be kind.
I'm just looking at where the money is in elections. Of the 10 biggest Super PACs in the 2010 elections (first since the ruling) something like 7 of them were pro republican corporate groups and 3 were pro democratic union groups. Corporatist democrats or not the GOP has an advantage in this arena.
---------- Post added 2012-11-16 at 12:06 AM ----------
While I agree that people jump to amendments too often I think one clarifying that only people are actually people isn't a bad candidate.
For the record, I'm opposed to piles of money in politics in general. I don't care if the money is from unions or corporations, they're both terrible sources to have dictating policy.
You mean like changing ID laws 2months before an election, changing poll hours, location, early votes and stuff?
The big problem is the US is that every state is responsible for organizing the vote and that the 'electoral college'(or whatever the name of the person responsible for the election) in each state is named by the governor thus a partisan nomination. It should really be like all those socialist countries where the person in charge of the election is apolitical and only there to make sure the process is followed.
Public campaign financing for any candidate who can demonstrate sufficient levels of support would be ideal.
---------- Post added 2012-11-16 at 12:20 AM ----------
You just need to strengthen the VRA here and require every state preclear legislation on voting access and set time windows in which states can pass voting regulation so it doesn't come up during elections.You mean like changing ID laws 2months before an election, changing poll hours, location, early votes and stuff?
Unfortunately the Supreme Court is hearing arguments on the VRA shortly and will probably weaken it.