Lisa Simpson
Feb 2,2010
In: Finance

The Supreme Court Permits Pouring in of Dollars into the Coffers of Political Parties

Many dollars into the coffers of political parties.

In one blow (5 to 4) the Supreme Court has given the green signal to the pouring in of dollars into the coffers of political parties. Consequently politics has been pushed back to the era of robber barons of the last 19th century. The conservative majority has opened the gates for the corporations to make use of their untold treasures to crowd the elections and frighten the election officials to do as dictated.

It is imperative of the Congress to act without delay to somewhat put limits on the damage that has already be done by this dramatic decision – a decision that is striking at the very core of democracy.

The recent ruling has freed the corporations from a long time ban on their spending directly for political campaigns. They will now be at liberty to splurge as much as they like on whomever they want to get elected. Anyone in the Congress trying to stand up to any special interest backed by wealth would in all likelihood have to face threats. Anything that money could buy would be used to silence the opponent.

This ruling puts back into reverse gear a well-trenched law and breaks through a wall that has stood solid, guarding for well over a century the divide between big business and elections. The ruling also grants freedom to the labour unions to spend freely – if they have the funds.

The founders of America had warned about the potential dangers emanating from the influence of the corporate world. In the Constitution many mentions have been made about rights and protection for, the press and religions etc. But nowhere have the corporations been mentioned.

It was in 1907 that the corporations reached dizzy levels of wealth and subsequently power. At that time Congress clearly stated its views about the connection between these corporations and campaigning. An outright ban was imposed on spending on the political candidates. In the middle of the century it put into force a bigger ban on political spending. Repeatedly Congress reaffirmed these bans until it was pulled down brutally by the Supreme Court very recently.

This matter has never been taken before the court. It seems the justices went beyond their limits picking upon a case that was attacking Hillary Clinton for some transgressions during the 2008 campaign. The court took the chance to pull up the case to a forum for the purpose of striking down the ban on corporate splurges. Following they rushed pell-mell into the hearing of the case at unholy speed.