Donna Smith (of 'SiCKO'): Two-Faced Corporate Personhood: Elected and Convicted

[marmar]

Published on Friday, August 27, 2010 by CommonDreams.org
Two-Faced Corporate Personhood: Elected and Convicted

by Donna Smith


Forgive me for being a tad confused. I am finding it difficult to understand why one person goes to jail for privately selling an appointment for elected office while others have a legal right to buy their elected positions. The U.S. Supreme Court says corporations are persons in terms of exercising free speech through political contributions. Other persons who behave more like corporations than persons are spending personal fortunes buying positions of power in the public sector.

Meg Whitman is working hard to buy the governorship of California. Rick Scott is doing the same in Florida. Millions and millions of dollars of their own personal fortunes have already been spent in their primary battles and both plan to spend "whatever it takes" to win. In both states, the good that could be accomplished with what these two corporate born and bred candidates are spending to win their elections points to how insane our election process has become.

In contrast, former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich faces another trial and millions in public funds will be spent trying to convict him of selling his favor in the appointment of a new U.S. Senator to Barack Obama's seat after the 2008 Presidential election.

We call selling a political office a crime; we don't seem to mind buying those same seats.

Don't get me wrong, I don't like what Blagojevich purportedly did. In fact, I am annoyed beyond what is probably reasonable that the former governor of my home state of Illinois makes the appointment process seem so ugly and tawdry. Illinois just doesn't need any more corruption scandals. There are millions of wonderful, honest people in Illinois who deserve the best of governance. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/08/27-8

[Cal33]

1. By now, most informed people know that a high percentage

of the Right-Wing leadership is made up of people with anti-social
personality disorders, or psychopaths. These are sick people
characterized by endless greed, agressive behavior, pathological
lying, lack of conscience, lack of empathy for those in pain
and need...etc...

Too many of these sick people are holding high positions -- both
in government and in private industry. Are we going to continue
letting them keep these positions and govern us? Haven't they done
enough damage already?

Their lies, repeated loud and clear often enough, are continuing to
fool the American people, and become the truth for tens of millions
of us. Too bad for the rest of us, but these sick people seem to be
gaining the upper hand. And November 2nd is only 2 months away!

Are we still in time to do something effectively?

[Lost4words]

2. They should let Blago go, its a waste of cash and a distraction.

I wonder how many times other Governors said or thought or even carried out exactly what Blago did. He is more dangerous to himself than others. IMO they got him on one count, leave it there. US Justice seems to like small to med fish, they never go after the barracudas or sharks.

[rucky]

3. It's like if prostitution were illegal, but it was okay to be a john.

[izquierdista]

4. What's the first rule of business?

The customer is always right. If they want to buy tarts, trollops, and governorships -- the customer is always right!