This is attributed to Robert Reich
Last night, at the University of Chicago, Bernie Sanders pledged that “no nominee of mine to the United States Supreme Court will get that job unless he or she is loud and clear that one of their first orders of business will be to overturn Citizens United.” Bernie couldn’t be clearer, or righter. The Supreme Court’s 2010 “Citizens United” decision has done exactly what we feared it would do -- unleash an even larger torrent of money into our political system. Most of it is from the rich, who expect something in return. In 2012, just 400 people – mostly top corporate executives, Wall Street moguls, and billionaires -- provided 40 percent of all campaign contributions.
What did they get for their efforts? Laws giving them more tax breaks and subsidies, and the blockage of laws and regulations that would reduce their profits and wealth. They've thereby further rigged the so-called “free market” to their benefit and against the interests of most Americans. Which, in turn, has enhanced their wealth, enabling them to rig the system even more. It’s a vicious cycle that can only get worse unless we get big money out of politics. “American democracy is not supposed to be about billionaires buying elections,” Bernie said last night. “It is not supposed to be about super PACS collecting huge amounts of money from the wealthiest people in the country having more power over the candidate’s campaign that the candidate himself or herself.” Exactly.
Generally, I don’t like political litmus tests for Supreme Court candidates. But Bernie’s litmus test is absolutely necessary.
What do you think?
