All these right-wingers, with all their “mountains of cash” and lies and threats—all this was foretold, and given permission, by the Chief Justice himself in Citizens United. SCOTUS doesn’t care, having removed itself from ethics and real life; MAGA cherishes the chaos.
I'm not sure why any of us are surprised. This is the inevitable outcome of Citizens United. Effectively ruling that money buys speech ended the founding concept that we all have an equal voice in government. Actual debate has been overwhelmed by campaign donations, elections a cohort of "representatives" comfortable with quid pro quo, who are well aware of how their next campaign will be funded and of how quickly that money will go to a compliant opponent if they don't satisfy their donors.
With elected offices successfully captured by the deep pockets, it was just a matter of time before attention moved on to the unelected branch. Judges with lifetime appointments can't be easily removed, so bullying is today's tactic of choice, but when these judges retire or are forced out the captured politicians will make sure the job is done for their benefactors, who will then fully own the government.
Unless our captured politicians pass new laws that reverse the current status quo of one dollar, one vote - laws that would make it much harder for them to hold on to their purchased seats of power - this process will roll to its obvious conclusion. That is pretty much inevitable.
Where will this all end?? Or are we simply doomed to have corrupt and toxic executive, legislative, judicial and enforcement bodies in our country? There is no ‘higher court’ to seek justice anymore.
The judicial system hasn’t been for ‘the rest of us’ since forever because to take a case to court, one needs money to pay the lawyers and the last thing most of can afford is to pay lawyers to pursue a court case. Who can afford to pay lawyers to bring cases against the Affordable Care Act, against Roe v Wade, against all the landmark legislation and court cases? Individuals and think tanks with millions and billions of dollars. How do people get rich in America in the 21st century? Spew hateful rhetoric. The fact that Alex Jones could be found liable for millions of dollars by a court but still be able to continue to poison the air waves with his hateful ideas is a colossal failure of our nation, not just the courts. Millions of Americans are listening to hateful, poisonous, destructive rhetoric but the word ‘f*ck’ still cannot be said on national network television. Rules prohibiting showing of breasts and saying certain cuss words are enforced and obeyed (remember the uproar over the wardrobe malfunction at Super Bowl?). Rules around common decency, thou shall not hurt others unnecessarily or to make money, no longer exist. The court system cannot be expected to arbitrate just decisions in a society that applies strict rules in one area over behavior that hurts no one while the society allows and encourages and supports and consumes poisonous, destructive, hateful bile on a daily basis. Bile that poisons the souls of the people who are listening to it. Bile that destroys the lives of the people who are the targets of it. Biles that makes millions and millions and millions of dollars for the person who is spewing it. The courts cannot fix a broken soul of a nation.
Deeply depressing read. The Infowars case in particular has me deeply questioning the humanity of many people in this country. The decision to throw out the initial sale was made by a 5th Circuit judge - aka the circuit further right than the Supreme Court - and as such is completely on brand.
As for Musk, it's truly a dangerous place for America when someone with so much wealth is placed in such close proximity to power (bullet dodged - he can't run for president). I don't think there's even a solution to this problem other than not allowing this much wealth to accumulate in the first place - time machine anyone? Disobey Trump - I'll fund a primary opponenet. Publish something anti-Trump - I'll buy you out. On and on, he's a cancer on our nation, much like Murdoch.
The problem, in my view, isn't concentrated wealth by itself. It's the ability of wealth to buy political power, which subverts the idea of the people choosing their representatives.
Legislate away Citizen's United, and you solve multiple problems, even if there are still obscenely wealthy people in the country. No more PACs. No more captured politicians. Ethics rules become meaningful again. Candidates campaign for votes instead of donations, and owe the voters and not the donors for their positions.
Of course, as I said before, this legislation only happens if Congress puts the good of the country ahead of their own desire to keep power and use it to their own advantage. And we've had enough time to elect a majority in both houses that understand their relationship to money, and are just fine with that arrangement.
I believe it is going to take a substantial grass roots effort, one that understands how to use money, power and public relations, to create a counter-narrative that makes a better case to voters than the case backed by money, captured power, and captured media. Maybe some rich folk will eventually realize that without a functioning government and economy (or working commercial rocket service to Mars) their wealth won't be worth much, and fund an opposition. A guy can hope.
In any case, this has to happen before the wealthy and their government are sufficiently well-entrenched that they can nullify the power of the vote. Hopefully we still have a few election cycles left.
The memo has been out ever since Tramp was elected; that he & his crooked allies had planned to but & rule the Supreme Court judges. Weak, selfish sell outs that can be bought for a dime. They forget that there’s a God in heaven who is the real judge of judges , and will judge them for their evil wrong doing against the people.
All these right-wingers, with all their “mountains of cash” and lies and threats—all this was foretold, and given permission, by the Chief Justice himself in Citizens United. SCOTUS doesn’t care, having removed itself from ethics and real life; MAGA cherishes the chaos.
I'm not sure why any of us are surprised. This is the inevitable outcome of Citizens United. Effectively ruling that money buys speech ended the founding concept that we all have an equal voice in government. Actual debate has been overwhelmed by campaign donations, elections a cohort of "representatives" comfortable with quid pro quo, who are well aware of how their next campaign will be funded and of how quickly that money will go to a compliant opponent if they don't satisfy their donors.
With elected offices successfully captured by the deep pockets, it was just a matter of time before attention moved on to the unelected branch. Judges with lifetime appointments can't be easily removed, so bullying is today's tactic of choice, but when these judges retire or are forced out the captured politicians will make sure the job is done for their benefactors, who will then fully own the government.
Unless our captured politicians pass new laws that reverse the current status quo of one dollar, one vote - laws that would make it much harder for them to hold on to their purchased seats of power - this process will roll to its obvious conclusion. That is pretty much inevitable.
Good luck with that.
I came on to comment but then I read Mobiguy’s comment and all I can say is yes, yes, and get out of my brain friend!
Where will this all end?? Or are we simply doomed to have corrupt and toxic executive, legislative, judicial and enforcement bodies in our country? There is no ‘higher court’ to seek justice anymore.
The world will surely be a much better place when both Alex Jones and Lone Skum shuffle off this mortal coil.
Lone Skum - nicely done.
Think President J.D. Vance. Be careful what you wish for.
The judicial system hasn’t been for ‘the rest of us’ since forever because to take a case to court, one needs money to pay the lawyers and the last thing most of can afford is to pay lawyers to pursue a court case. Who can afford to pay lawyers to bring cases against the Affordable Care Act, against Roe v Wade, against all the landmark legislation and court cases? Individuals and think tanks with millions and billions of dollars. How do people get rich in America in the 21st century? Spew hateful rhetoric. The fact that Alex Jones could be found liable for millions of dollars by a court but still be able to continue to poison the air waves with his hateful ideas is a colossal failure of our nation, not just the courts. Millions of Americans are listening to hateful, poisonous, destructive rhetoric but the word ‘f*ck’ still cannot be said on national network television. Rules prohibiting showing of breasts and saying certain cuss words are enforced and obeyed (remember the uproar over the wardrobe malfunction at Super Bowl?). Rules around common decency, thou shall not hurt others unnecessarily or to make money, no longer exist. The court system cannot be expected to arbitrate just decisions in a society that applies strict rules in one area over behavior that hurts no one while the society allows and encourages and supports and consumes poisonous, destructive, hateful bile on a daily basis. Bile that poisons the souls of the people who are listening to it. Bile that destroys the lives of the people who are the targets of it. Biles that makes millions and millions and millions of dollars for the person who is spewing it. The courts cannot fix a broken soul of a nation.
Deeply depressing read. The Infowars case in particular has me deeply questioning the humanity of many people in this country. The decision to throw out the initial sale was made by a 5th Circuit judge - aka the circuit further right than the Supreme Court - and as such is completely on brand.
As for Musk, it's truly a dangerous place for America when someone with so much wealth is placed in such close proximity to power (bullet dodged - he can't run for president). I don't think there's even a solution to this problem other than not allowing this much wealth to accumulate in the first place - time machine anyone? Disobey Trump - I'll fund a primary opponenet. Publish something anti-Trump - I'll buy you out. On and on, he's a cancer on our nation, much like Murdoch.
The problem, in my view, isn't concentrated wealth by itself. It's the ability of wealth to buy political power, which subverts the idea of the people choosing their representatives.
Legislate away Citizen's United, and you solve multiple problems, even if there are still obscenely wealthy people in the country. No more PACs. No more captured politicians. Ethics rules become meaningful again. Candidates campaign for votes instead of donations, and owe the voters and not the donors for their positions.
Of course, as I said before, this legislation only happens if Congress puts the good of the country ahead of their own desire to keep power and use it to their own advantage. And we've had enough time to elect a majority in both houses that understand their relationship to money, and are just fine with that arrangement.
I believe it is going to take a substantial grass roots effort, one that understands how to use money, power and public relations, to create a counter-narrative that makes a better case to voters than the case backed by money, captured power, and captured media. Maybe some rich folk will eventually realize that without a functioning government and economy (or working commercial rocket service to Mars) their wealth won't be worth much, and fund an opposition. A guy can hope.
In any case, this has to happen before the wealthy and their government are sufficiently well-entrenched that they can nullify the power of the vote. Hopefully we still have a few election cycles left.
It is an offense to call these people judges as it implies that they are meting out justice when they are actually undermining it.
The US is a dystopian society. What would it be like if we left all these nasty people to themselves and just abandoned ship?
Musky is weirdly out of control and has been given the power to rule despite never being officially elected. He is an American Oligarch.
“Elon Musk threatens GOP senators to back Trump's Cabinet picks, or else!”
https://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/trump-elon-musk-primary-republican-ethics-rcna184139
The memo has been out ever since Tramp was elected; that he & his crooked allies had planned to but & rule the Supreme Court judges. Weak, selfish sell outs that can be bought for a dime. They forget that there’s a God in heaven who is the real judge of judges , and will judge them for their evil wrong doing against the people.