For as long as I can remember, virtually all of us have wailed against the power of special interests in our political process. Translated, what has upset us is that money talks in politics, it talks so loudly that our politicians become virtual slaves to those who control it and channel it into their elections campaigns.
Consider now the power of our corporations and the clout they already have in politics today. It is now going to grow considerably.
The U.S. Supreme Court today overturned a century-old restriction on corporations using their money to sway federal elections. This has the potential of being one of the most significant rulings in decades.
If you think that special interests, and, in this instance, well financed corporate interests, have had too much sway in U.S. politics hang on.
In his dissent, Justice John Paul Stevens, wrote: "The court's ruling threatens to undermine the integrity of elected institutions around the nation."
Congressman Alan Grayson (D-Fla.)had this to say today: "The Supreme Court in essence has ruled that corporations can buy elections. If that happens, democracy in America is over. We cannot put the law up for sale and award government to the highest bidder."
But that is precisely what the Supreme Court has ruled -- and it is very troubling indeed.
