Bullies in the Voting Booth

Definition: Corporation (abbreviated): An artificial person created by or under state law
whose identity is separate from its members.

   By John Bullaro

Few people see, or want to acknowledge, that an environmental catastrophe is unfolding. What's more disturbing, few politicians — from either party — see what is happening to our land, water, air, plants, and animals because to do so may jeopardize their funding sources.  Denial is an easy way out, a way to ignore these problems. This denial provides cover for not acting.

The evidence for global warming is so solid that a person or organization who denies it has to be brain dead.  Global warming, according to climate scientists, has many root causes.

Most of the population of the world lives in big cities. These large settlements promote "geographic displacement perceptions" — no opportunity to experience first hand the effects of climate change.  City residents can read about climate change in the press. But cognitive dissonance blinds them to the message because the "deniers" messages, like Jello, are easier to swallow. To acknowledge an environmental problem means an individual might have to make changes in their lifestyle.

Recently a new enemy of the fight to save the environment emerged: the Supreme Court of the United States. This august body of judges has determined recently that corporations have the same First Amendment protection as individuals. Mining, coal, and oil companies, for example, can make unlimited monetary contributions to political campaigns — no restrictions. Money, say the judges, is free speech.  The corporations now have carte blanche to pick their leaders, who support their agendas. (See definition of a corporation above.)

In December, 2012, Sun Magazine wrote: "Plato had it all figured out, way back in ancient Greece, that every democracy eventually becomes a plutocracy — a government by the rich — because you can always buy votes…"  

The U.S. has clearly moved into the plutocratic stage. Every plutocracy devolves into anarchy, said Plato, because poor people will only put up with so much. The question is, can we return to a democracy?

Once we were a nation of, "by the people and for the people." Now, thanks to the Supreme Court's illogical decision, we have devolved into a plutocracy, where corporations are the people.

Competition is the holy grail of our economic free market system. For the most part, competition served us well. Choice keeps prices in line and quality of merchandise high. But there are limits to the benefits of competition. When placing the individual voter up against deep pocket corporations, individual voters can't win.

The Tea Party, corporations, and other right wing bastions have taken over the political process in America, even without the White House, they own "controlling interest" in the country.

The average working citizen is struggling to pay bills, maybe find a job, and raise a family. They are struggling to stay afloat economically. Wage earners can't worry about climate change — their plates are already full. Global warming is just too esoteric, too nebulous, too far off the working person's radar to worry about. Yet, there is hope.

If President Obama can make one more appointment to the Supreme Court, there is hope for a new opinion on corporate rights. Failing that outcome, perhaps a future congress will reverse the Supreme's Courts faulty decision on corporations v. individual voter. If these exigencies come to pass, voters may once again reclaim the democratic process.