Hello Matt,

On Sat 2012-May-12 10:18, Matt Munson (1:218/109) wrote to All:



MM> With the Citizens United decision, it has opened the floodgates for
MM> corporate political donations. Since corporations want their
MM> outsized influence, the American people deserve to know how our
MM> political candidates and causes are being sponsored. We should know
MM> who our political candidates are being beholden to or what they
MM> stand for. Unfortunately there is another roadblock to transparency.

Right, but remember first and foremost these creatures
resemble cockroaches.  Ever seen how cockroaches react when
you turn on the light when you live in an infested place?

Citizens united was a bad decision on many levels.  Even the Berger court
would have said no to that imho but we all know that the cicumvention of
the checks and balances of the
constitution has been a major priority of both political
parties now for a long time.  NO matter how careful the
founding fathers were to build in those checks and balances, it took a
little over 200 years for the big political
machines to figure out how to dump them in the trash.

MM> Donors of a 501(c)4 should have their donations automatically
MM> disclosed, just as how it took 4 years to find out that Romney hid
MM> his donation for the Proposition 8 donations. Even though it was
MM> questionable about leaking the information, the information should
MM> be legalized in the future. If a group influences public policy,
MM> secrecy is not an option.

OF course it shouldn't be, as you say, sunlight is the best
disinfectant, but remember that these sahdy operators have
already purchased our government.  Secrecy is only for the
powerful corporations.

As for Citizens united, it was bad law.  YOu cannot jail a
corporation.  YOu cannot deprive it of liberty.  Yes, you
can disband it, and "deprive it of liberty" they would say,
but the individuals that make up the corporate entity still
go free.  They still enjoy their liberty, their freedoms.
Corporations are not persons, artificial or otherwise.  When they can be
jailed, when they can feel pain in the usual way that you or I, or a dog or
a horse feels pain then they can
legitimately be considered people.

MM> Even the Supreme Court stated that signatures for ballot measures
MM> are not confidential. Doe v. Reed states that disclosure of
MM> signatures on a ballot measure does not violate the first amendment.

They shouldn't be, they need to be verified, which can't be
done if they're confidential.

MM> If a political candidate wants to restrict your civil rights or ship
MM> your job to China, India or Mexico you should be aware of the
MM> implications of supporting that candidate for office.

iNdeed you should, but remember it's already been bought and sold.  The
Citizens united decision has, by itself undone
over 200 years of checks and balances in our Federal
government.

Regards,
           Richard
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