CORPTOCRACY

The American people do not like the Supreme Court’s recent Citizens United ruling that opens the floodgates to corporate spending on political campaigns.  In recent polling large majorities of Americans from across the political spectrum want Congress to pass new laws limiting corporate spending on our elections. 

Senator Sherrod Brown, of Ohio, has put forward a bill that if passed would force corporations to FULLY DISCLOSE when they spend corporation money to influence elections;  REQUIRE CONSENT from the corporate shareholders  in a majority vote before they spend company money trying to defeat or support candidates;  PROTECT OUR ELECTIONS by preventing foreign-owned corporations from spending freely on American politics.   

The underlying political issue to remember is that a conservative Supreme Court will make right-leaning, conservative rulings.  And, with W.’s eight years in the White House the Courts have taken a hard-right swing.  President Obama may have an opportunity to alter the makeup of the Supreme Court and bring it back into balance. 

If you don’t like this recent decision you certainly will not want to “send a message to Washington” by electing Republicans.  There are consequences  to elections.   

A recent Washing Post/ABC News poll gleaned the data shown below.  Pollsters asked: 

• Do you support or oppose the recent ruling by the Supreme Court that says corporations and unions can spend as much money as they want to help political candidates win elections?

• Would you support or oppose an effort by Congress to reinstate limits on corporate and union spending on election campaigns?