Federal Judge Rules Corporations, Just Like People, Should Be Able To Give To Candidates

[deminks]

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/05/federal_judge_rules_corporations_just_like_people_should_be_able_to_give_to_candidates.php?ref=fpa

Last year the Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United opened up the coffers of political action groups to corporate funds because the court found that companies -- just like people -- should be able to donate to political causes. Now a federal judge has ruled that based on that logic, corporations should be able to give directly to politicians just like human beings.

Federal Judge James C. Cacheris, who was nominated to the federal bench in the Eastern District of Virginia by President Ronald Reagan back in 1981, ruled that "for better or worse, Citizens United held that there is no distinction between an individual and a corporation with respect to political speech."

"Thus, if an individual can make direct contributions within limits, a corporation cannot be banned from doing the same thing," Cacheris wrote in a ruling issued late Thursday.

(end snip)

Happy Memorial Day, we just became irrelevant parasites.

[Newest Reality]

1. Under the iron fist of Corporatism,

we are to discover, and will have to accept, that big corporations are the ONLY true people.

The rest of us are ridden like horses, corralled like cattle and managed like sheep. We are human commodities, numbers, things. We are replaceable due to our vast numbers. Did you think that anti-choice was about anything else?

Heck, they can always cull the surplus population when needed under that kind of criteria. It would be sort of like being permanently laid-off from life.

[NYC Liberal]

2. "The best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly."

-A. Lincoln

I say we allow corporations to run for office. Then perhaps people will see the absurdity and demand a change.

[Thumper79]

3. That is a great answer.

Corporations for President or Congress? Maybe then the people in this country will get out of this slump of acceptance and get p_____ off and do something.

[kenny blankenship]

13. Corporations aren't that stupid.

They'll put their names on sports arenas, and proudly sponsor civic events. But when it comes to politics, they know it's necessary that we continue to believe that our govt "belongs to the people", and that we believe our govt's decrees are the result of our own free and democratic choices at the ballot box. If corporations ran everything directly they would then stand blamable for when things go badly. That's a major liability, and not compatible with their goal of maximizing profits. Privatize profits and socialize losses is their golden rule. When things go wrong for them, we're supposed to eat it, and refloat their business ventures. But when things go wrong for us, well that's too bad. If they ran things openly, with their name over the door and everything, they would become directly responsible for when things go wrong for other interests in society and they might be on the hook for damages great and small caused by their mismanagement. A publicly held corporation in the first place is a legal entity designed to limit personal liability and to evade responsibility. So the last thing they want is to be visibly in charge of things so that the little people look to them when stuff hits the fan.

[nichomachus]

5. I think that's the system we already have

Goldman Sachs is in the Oval Office

[NYC Liberal]

10. If "Goldman Sachs is in the Oval Office,” Obama would not be. n/t

[nichomachus]

11. Obama is an employee of Goldman Sachs

And a good one too.

[postulater]

4. If corporations are people, then make them go fight for their country.

Oh, wait.

Crap.

[PA Democrat]

6. Then they should also be eligible for the death penalty.

[City Lights]

7. I look forward to corporations serving time in the big house!

A corporate perp walk will be a sight to see! :bounce:

I won't hold my breath waiting for these to happen. :argh:

[eallen]

8. Terrible. I doubt that ruling will stand....

Here's a short article explaining why:

http://electionlawblog.org/?p=18342

:hippie:

[madrchsod]

9. according to this, unions are people too....

now you see the real reason why they are trying to get rid of the unions....

[moondust]

12. Can't we just move the White House to Wall Street?

:shrug:

[classysassy]

14. The founders and democracy

Greed and lies have taken over America and our chances of getting rid of them are very slim.