April 13, 2012

Vermont Senate Says Overturn Citizens United

Vermont Senate Says Overturn Citizens United
A while back when SOPA was a big deal I signed up for "The Bernie Buzz" an email newsletter from Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

As an aside, it's sad that I get better communication from this Vermont Senator than I do the Idaho Senators.  I've signed up for Senator Risch's newsletter so we'll see.  Senator Crapo's website is full of fail and I cannot even sign up for his newsletter.

Seeing as I've emailed both of them (Idaho Senators) through their websites, you'd think they would have made it easy to sign up for their newsletters.  Here's a clue: find out what Bernie is doing and copy it.



The great state of Vermont is hoping to get a Constitutional Amendment overturning the US Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision.  This decision has created what is now known as Super Political Action Committee (SuperPAC) which essentially allows an unlimited amount of money to be thrown at any politician.

You know the old saying, "Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely"?  Well what kind of power do you think an unchecked amount of money can buy?  I'm sure your politician can't be bought.....not for a million dollars.  What about two million.....or ten....or five hundred million?  while I doubt there isn't anyone who would be worth a 1/2 Billion price tag, the fact that this ruling allows there to be such a price tag is disconcerting enough.  It's not like our congressional representatives have proven themselves ethically sound with concern to fiscal matters, giving themselves a bunch of extra perks or a raise when we have a budget deficit...right?

The gist of Vermont's amendment boils down to, "Money is not speech and corporations are not persons under the U.S. Constitution."

Sounds about right to me.....
Overturning Citizens United


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