2013 U.S. Supreme Court Building
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U.S. Supreme Court
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court is to hear arguments in "McCutcheon v/s Federal Election Commission", a case calling for lifting spending limits by individuals to candidates and political parties during an election cycle. Consider it as another potential money bonanza for our current crop of Republican and Democrat stooges inhabiting the halls of Congress.
Presently, individuals are permitted to give $2,600 to a candidate or committee and up to $32,400 to a political party. There's also an overall donation limit of $123,200, a $48,600 cap on total donations and a $74,600 cap on donations to political action committees and parties (as these "limits" were supposed to represent financial reform; yet it's a pittance compared to the amount of outrageous corporate donations currently allowed).
But this case has nothing to do with corporations and their spending limits. That "little item" was taken care of in "Citizens United v/s F.E.C.", the 2010 ruling by SCOTUS where in a 5 to 4 decision the five ultra conservative "Supremes" granted corporations the ability to donate unlimited expenditures during a campaign season which has resulted in an avalanche of corporate largesse descending upon and overwhelming the electoral process in its favor.
Now with "McCutcheon" if the Court accepts its argument and if "Citizens United" is any guide to their thinking the right wing "five" will in all likelihood agree to grant individuals similar "rights" and big money, corporate and individual will completely savage an electoral process that can only be described as "the best money could buy".
The only way to possibly alter the malevolent path we're currently following [i] is first to completely overhaul the financing of our elections, overturn "Citizens United" (and presumably "McCutcheon" if it becomes law) with a Constitutional Amendment outlawing big money in the electoral process on all levels including local, state and federal elections thus getting those nominated and elected to follow their conscience, do what's right for the country, serve the interests of the people and not be beholden to the military/corporate/political cabal that currently has a stranglehold over the all important political agenda.
There is as many of you know a current movement afoot to get an Amendment to the Constitution that would fundamentally change the campaign finance system. Some 12 state legislatures and many cities have called on the Congress to put such an amendment before all 50 states legislatures.
It's the absolutely necessary overhaul that could bring the country back from the abyss we've fallen into.
It would be all too easy to become cynical, be overwhelmed by the long odds that anything could change our current bleak predicament.
In the Senate there's Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Saunders, Ron Wyden and Mark Udall (and possibly a few others) who have maintained their integrity, resisted and fought against the security state, represent the people's interests and aren't beholden to big money.
But these few can't do it alone.
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