After life-long allegiance to the Republican Party, my almost 89-year-old father has finally had enough. Although it took sending several links to him with petitions to amend the Constitution in light of the recent disastrous SCOTUS decision, I think he has finally seen the light. He can't believe that five judges could come up with a ruling which gives any corporation, even one run by the wealthy elite from other countries, the right to influence our elections and, ultimately, our laws through unlimited donations. He characterized the ruling as treason, and I hardily agree. To celebrate his new-found activism he wrote the following poem. Ever a fan of the limericks of Ogden Nash, my father expresses the shock that most of us felt when five activist judges decided to destroy what is left of the American democracy. Please forgive the capital letters. They are easier for him to see.
CITIZENS UNITED VS. THE FEC
OUR DEAR OLD U.S. COURT SUPREME
HAS REALLY SLIPPED A COG.
IT HAS MADE ARRANGEMENTS TO THE LAW,
THAT HAVE US ALL AGOG.
IT SAYS THAT CORPORATIONS NOW
CAN BE THE SAME AS US,
AND MAKE DONATIONS TO THE POLS,
REAL BIG, WITHOUT A FUSS.
THE LOBBYISTS CAN NOW GO OUT
AND DONATE MORE THAN EVER
TO DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS,
SO THEY MIGHT PULL THE LEVER,
TO PASS THE LAWS THAT HELP THEM OUT,
JOHN PUBLICTO IGNORE,
AND LET CORPORATIONS BE ORDAINED
TO LEAD US EVER MORE.
THAT'S NOT THE WAY, I DO BELIEVE,
THE FOUNDING FATHER'S MEANT IT,
THE PEOPLE WERE TO RUN THE LAND
AND THEY WROTE THAT, AND SENT IT.
SO LET'S CUT THE CAMPAIGN FAL-DE-ROL,
THE MONEY THAT IS SENT,
AND PUT A LIMIT ON THE DOUGH
THAT FOR A VOTE IS SPENT.
AND GIVE THE "RUNNERS" HALF A YEAR
TO SHOW WHAT THEY COULD DO
IF THEY WOULD BE ELECTED
AS TRUE SERVANTS, THROUGH AND THROUGH.
FRANK WRIGHT
JANUARY 25, 2010
