Has your freedom of speech been freed?

Has your freedom of speech been freed? (Full Version)

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[Poll]

Yes, this ruling means my voice will finally be heard

10% (2)

I was heard before, but this ruling lets me fully speak out

5% (1)

No, this changes nothing--I have the same voice as before

20% (4)

Actually, my voice will be drowned out in a sea of corporate money

50% (10)

I had no voice before. I don't now. Same old, same old.

0% (0)

What's the Supreme Court?

0% (0)

What middle class?

5% (1)

I have to wait to see what talk radio tells me to think.

0% (0)

I have to wait to see what the "liberal" media tells me to think.

0% (0)

I'm just thankful I'm not a citizen of the United States

10% (2)

Total Votes : 20

(last vote on : 1/23/2010 6:15:18 AM)
(Poll will run till: -- )

Message

Musicmystery -> Has your freedom of speech been freed? (1/22/2010 11:44:48 AM)
Newt Gingrich is saying that the Supreme Court decision striking down corporate campaign donation limits is a victory for the middle class. His rationale is that this allows non-millionaires to run for office. Interesting that he doesn't see it as a victory for the poorer classes. He calls it a triumph for first amendment rights. What about you? Are your rights freer now? Will your freedom of speech soar as never before? I can't wait to see that line of middle class candidates this November. Uh-huh.

Jeffff -> RE: Has your freedom of speech been freed? (1/22/2010 11:49:55 AM)
I think campiagns should have a limit... a very very low limit. maybe 100,000.00... for a little printing. Candidates would then have to talk to reporters and hopefully give clear answers. Voters would be foreced to read and think rather than be swayed by a sound bite. It is often easier to spot bull shit when in context Jeff

Musicmystery -> RE: Has your freedom of speech been freed? (1/22/2010 11:54:08 AM)
Banning TV ads alone would be a big help.

Jeffff -> RE: Has your freedom of speech been freed? (1/22/2010 11:54:56 AM)
That would be huge!

ShaharThorne -> RE: Has your freedom of speech been freed? (1/22/2010 11:57:34 AM)
You mean that I cannot claim my daughter as John Edwards' natural daughter? too bad...I would of made a killing with the tabloids...

KcFunDom -> RE: Has your freedom of speech been freed? (1/22/2010 11:58:48 AM)
This is not about free speech exactly, it is about who is entitled to free speech. In their decision yesterday, The US Supreme Court granted rights to a corporation that are exclusive to individuals according to the US Constitution. Therefore, yesterday's decision effectively defined a corporation as an individual. Corporations have no conscience, they are soley designed for and serve only...to make money. They don't care who lives or dies or what is fair or practical for any individual and it's not their obligation to do so. That means speech without conscience is now a protected right in the United States. I don't know about anyone else but I think that is fucked up.

Jeffff -> RE: Has your freedom of speech been freed? (1/22/2010 11:59:42 AM)
Without TV and a huge budget, John Edwards would never have gotten off the ground. It would please me if people actually had to read and think before they voted. I know that makes me sound elitist. Too bad.

Musicmystery -> RE: Has your freedom of speech been freed? (1/22/2010 12:15:41 PM)
But Jeff...candidates would then need positions on the issues! Negative campaigning just doesn't work so well in the cool light of reason.

Musicmystery -> RE: Has your freedom of speech been freed? (1/22/2010 12:24:13 PM)
Just out of curiosity... Anybody here gonna up your campaign contributions? Gonna funnel your businesses' money into campaign donations? Anyone running for office, now that Newt has shown you the way? Who's your corporate sponsor? Will you wear patches on your campaign clothes? Hey--maybe you could get a job as a corporation's representative in Congress!

cjan -> RE: Has your freedom of speech been freed? (1/22/2010 12:40:38 PM)
This is the most disastrous, cynical, intelectually dishonest decision by the Supremes since the Court ruled to stop the Florida recount in 2000. It happened in a similarly rushed way which is uncharacteristic for the Court. It's an outrage and, unless it is reversed or Congress takes action, it is the death knoll for what is left of democracy in the US. The idea to strictly limit campaign spending, forbidding broadcast and even print ads is a good one. I'm disgusted although not surprised , given the makeup of this court, by this decision.

LadyEllen -> RE: Has your freedom of speech been freed? (1/22/2010 1:12:09 PM)
I ticked option one Tim - as a non US citizen I can now participate in your election process and in theory exert a far greater influence on it than the vast majority of Americans. Who needs a vote when you can influence millions to cast theirs the way you prefer? E

KcFunDom -> RE: Has your freedom of speech been freed? (1/22/2010 1:56:20 PM)
It's especially revealing that the question was not originally before the court. The court originally was only asked to decide if the "documentary" about Hillary Clinton was a news story or a political advertisement. They (the court) decided to look at whether is was unconstitutional to ban the "documentary" even if it was a political advertisement. In short, they were not asked to decide the constitutionality of the law but injected themselves anyway. For those conservatives hearding this ruling, this is judical activism at best and it makes one wonder who those supreme court justices that were appointed by Republican presidents are truly working for. It is worth the time to read the desenting opinion by Justice Paul Stevens. I quote in part here: "the court made an error in treating corporate free speech the same as an individual speech free speech and that opening the door to unlimited cooperate spending increase the chances of corruption in the political system." That seems an understatement to me.

intenze -> RE: Has your freedom of speech been freed? (1/22/2010 2:55:12 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: cjan It's an outrage and, unless it is reversed or Congress takes action, it is the death knoll for what is left of democracy in the US. I quite agree. More than any other issue that has passed through any branch of our government, this frightens me. It is bad enough that you have to be fairly well off to run for office. This makes it exponentially worse, in my opinion.

Musicmystery -> RE: Has your freedom of speech been freed? (1/22/2010 3:45:08 PM)
Additionally, it signals that this court is quite willing to set aside stare decisis and legislate from the bench--exactly the opposite of what they said in their confirmation hearings. So much for strict constructionists. This indicates a host of rulings, from Roe v. Wade to whatever agenda item imaginable, are just waiting for the right case for the court to exercise its will. Frankly, this alone is enough to keep me voting Democratic in presidential elections.

Musicmystery -> RE: Has your freedom of speech been freed? (1/22/2010 3:46:53 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LadyEllen I ticked option one Tim - as a non US citizen I can now participate in your election process and in theory exert a far greater influence on it than the vast majority of Americans. Who needs a vote when you can influence millions to cast theirs the way you prefer? E Very true. Bizarre, isn't it? So whom are you sponsoring in November? Somebody middle class, right?

LadyEllen -> RE: Has your freedom of speech been freed? (1/22/2010 3:51:25 PM)
I'm backing the Chinese communist party Tim; now that the Chinese will be able to install whoever they want (using your money) I think it might pay to be on the winning side, you know? E

pahunkboy -> RE: Has your freedom of speech been freed? (1/22/2010 3:59:38 PM)
So then what you are saying- is you do not want centralization of power? Isn't that the very essence of world government? This slide has been going on for a while. While people are endlessly distracted they have no attention span to see that this country has been taken over in a strange sort of coup. TARP was a turning point- which in the past 10 years- the govt blunders- no one gets punished and tons of money flows into the new problem. Many of my posts complain of this type of thing. Maybe not in words you easily understand. But yeah- here we are- owned and controlled by lobbyists. Goldman sachs contributed heavily to Obama, so next time they have no limits.

Musicmystery -> RE: Has your freedom of speech been freed? (1/22/2010 4:08:33 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: LadyEllen I'm backing the Chinese communist party Tim; now that the Chinese will be able to install whoever they want (using your money) I think it might pay to be on the winning side, you know? E Well, they do make affordable cars, and with regulation out of the way, they should thrive, no problem!

Mercnbeth -> RE: Has your freedom of speech been freed? (1/22/2010 4:10:56 PM)
quote: Frankly, this alone is enough to keep me voting Democratic in presidential elections. Unfortunately MM, you'll be voting for the best Democratic candidate money can buy; as any similarly inclined Republican. You have no vote by party any longer. You have a vote to cast for a candidate sponsored by someone. I think we always have since McCain - Feingold was implemented. This decision was anticipated by it's authors. The goal was to have a virtually limitless source of funds for both sides of the aisle. It was 'bi-partisan'; which has as one of its definition - fucking over the general public. Personally, I see only one choice - voting for whoever isn't incumbent. No more effective than any other idea I'm sure.

Musicmystery -> RE: Has your freedom of speech been freed? (1/22/2010 4:13:51 PM)
quote: Unfortunately MM, you'll be voting for the best Democratic candidate money can buy; as any similarly inclined Republican. True. Good point.

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