The Aristocracy of the Moneyed Corporations

“I hope we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our moneyed corporations.” 

Thomas Jefferson

In Citizens United v. FEC on January 21, 2010, the US Supreme Court held by 5 to 4 that because US corporations are legal persons, they can contribute to political campaigns.   The assumption here is that corporations are more than the sum of an aggregate of persons—that is, more than citizens associating.  The corporate entity has rights in itself.  Ginsberg and Sotomeyer questioned in oral arguments whether free speech applies to spending money, and, moreover, whether corporations should be considered legal persons, much less citizens.  After all, they can’t be drafted, or vote.

The full essay is at "Aristocracy of the Moneyed Corporations."

A Tax Unfair to Big Banks?

In a political economy in which large concentrations of privately-held capital, such as that of a bank or large corporation, can legally make political contributions, curiously as "free speech," even the President of the United States may actually be a paper tiger. Even when the federal government comes to the resue of a bank, Wall Street can evade any "strings" and even use the funds to pay out bonuses. Meanwhile, the American people take their elected representatives' speeches at face value, and this suites Wall Street just fine.  

The full essay is at "An Unfair Tax?"

Political Campaign Coverage: A Question of Substance

Popular election presumes meaningful discourse on current issues and political philosophy so the voters can distinguish the candidates.  Too often, however, the media takes its eyes off the ball and orients its coverage to the process rather than the content.  

The full essay is at "Political Campaign Coverage."

Hints of a Shift Back to Federalism?

In the US Senate race in Massachusetts between Scott Brown and Martha Coakley, there was some resistance to the proposed federal health care legislation. This pushback was in line with reinvigorating a federal system for the United States.

The full essay is at "Shift Back to Federalism."