Bedtime for Democracy

The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) just released a decision striking down limits on the actions of corporations in political campaigns. Specifically the new ruling will allow for corporations to spend unlimited amounts of money to promote their own candidates and agendas. The result largely dismantles the McCain-Feingold Act and also overturns two prior Supreme Court decisions.

Adding insult to injury the decision is based on the "free speech" rights of corporations. Justice John Paul Stevens writing in dissent referred to the ruling as a "radical departure" from settled law. McCain himself took to the Senate floor to warn against the ruling. Never has free been so costly.

It is noteworthy that the justices who voted to overturn precedent have all spoken against judicial activism. This ruling is the epitome of just that behavior. Throw in the fact that the shaky legal precedent that corporations are people (Santa Clara County vs. Southern Pacific Railroad, 1886) lies at the very heart of their ability to even bring the case and this appears to be a sign that the Supreme Court has lost sight of the goals of the Constitution.

In total, this ruling will serve to diminish the free speech rights of individuals as they are drowned in the din of advertising by corporations. This ruling will enshrine tyranny of the corporate world over the individual. The protection of the people has been trampled by providing an inherent advantage to wealthy corporations and organizations.

With this ruling, democracy is done. Corporations will now control the political process. Elections will become advertising campaigns and the only constituents that matter will be those with a Board of Directors. How long before candidates no longer identify with political parties but instead use corporate affiliations?

Today it is bedtime for democracy. Tomorrow we awake to the dawn of corporatism.