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Citizens United damage: Is America still a democracy?
All Voices ^ | Jun 26, 2012 | itobin53

Posted on 06/27/2012 6:34:26 AM PDT by An American!

America is in uncharted territory now that Citizens United has taken hold in the 2012 elections. It has some people questioning whether or not the United States of America is still a democracy.
Since the Supreme Court declared corporations human beings (people) in the 2009 Citizens United case, more than U.S. elections have changed. Millionaires, corporations, and secret donor Super PACs are now allowed to spend an unlimited amount of money to influence the outcome of U.S. political campaigns.
The majority of Citizens United funding is coming from conservative groups that are backing Republican candidates. With enough negative TV ads against Democrats, the millionaire-funded Super PACs can literally “brainwash” the electorate enough to take control of the U.S. government. While some people may believe that unlimited campaign spending by millionaires is just another form of freedom, others suggest that it signals the end of democracy in America.
To understand what Citizens United has really done to America, a short visit to a dictionary can be an eye-opener.
Democracy: Government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised directly by them or by their elected agents under a free electoral system.
Oligarchy: A form of government in which all power is vested in a few persons or in a dominant class or clique; government by the few.
Plutocracy: The rule or power of wealth or of the wealthy; a government or state in which the wealthy class rules; a class or group ruling, or exercising power or influence, by virtue of its wealth.
Based on the definitions above, America currently has some elements of oligarchy, plutocracy and democracy. It is also fair to say that America is also in a transition period, as Citizens United takes effect. But after the next election that will change, because all three cannot coexist for any length of time.
What is likely to emerge after the 2012 elections will be plutocracy controlled by oligarchy, which, if allowed to follow its natural course, will gradually suffocate what is left of democracy.

SNIP...the rest of this gibberish is at the link


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: democracy; republic
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To: An American!

The democracy defination describes the state of Democrat Party politics, doesn’t it!


41 posted on 06/27/2012 7:41:03 AM PDT by SaraJohnson
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To: An American!

As one commentator recently pointed out: The trouble with democracy is that 51% of the people can vote to defile the cornflakes of the other 49%.


42 posted on 06/27/2012 7:42:36 AM PDT by Walrus (ICH BIN EIN ARIZONAN!)
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To: Walrus

Democracy is two wolves and one sheep voting on what’s for dinner.


43 posted on 06/27/2012 7:43:22 AM PDT by dfwgator
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To: radioone; Jim Scott; liberalh8ter; khelus; In Maryland; Adder; Resettozero; Tex-Con-Man; ...

A further very educational reading for those who are interested in the foundation of our REPUBLIC...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2873431/posts which discusses this Res Publica article at http://www.teapartytribune.com/2012/04/17/res-publica/

As that article so aptly ends, “I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the REPUBLIC for which it stands, one nation UNDER GOD, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”


44 posted on 06/27/2012 7:46:47 AM PDT by An American! (Proud To Be An American!)
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To: DManA

Leftists hate corporations until they come out for “gay marriage” like General Mills in MN...then they love them.


45 posted on 06/27/2012 7:51:45 AM PDT by TurboZamboni (Looting the future to bribe the present)
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To: An American!

Weird rant. The United States has, of course, never been a “democracy”. No offense, but childish screeds like the one you posted are all over the place. There is no shortage of ignorant buffoons out there. Look around at what gets elected.


46 posted on 06/27/2012 7:58:28 AM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: An American!

“The majority of Citizens United funding is coming from conservative groups that are backing Republican candidates.”

Replace the words “conservative” with liberal and “Republican” with democrat and this article would have never been written.


47 posted on 06/27/2012 8:23:06 AM PDT by BO Stinkss
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To: In Maryland

Precisely. The ruling from SCOTUS IMO levels the playing field albeit not the stated intention, but it does.

IMO the Left was attempting to once again gain the upper hand in protesting the Super PAC while protecting their Union resources.

Typical of their anything to win mentality.


48 posted on 06/27/2012 8:34:40 AM PDT by rockinqsranch (Dems, Libs, Socialists, call 'em what you will, they ALL have fairies livin' in their trees.)
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To: yefragetuwrabrumuy

You posted some interesting points to mull over.


49 posted on 06/27/2012 8:43:49 AM PDT by khelus
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To: An American!

When Unions (an organization of like minded persons) donates big money to political campaigns, it is OK...even encouraged.

When Corporations (organizations of like minded persons) donates big money to political campaigns, it is a fascist activity!

Got it....


50 posted on 06/27/2012 9:11:43 AM PDT by CSM (Keeper of the Dave Ramsey Ping list. FReepmail me if you want your beeber stuned.)
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To: An American!
Since the Supreme Court declared corporations human beings (people) in the 2009 Citizens United case...
Actually, Congress did this legislatively several decades ago (1 USC § 1 Notes 1948 — Act June 25, 1948, included “tense”, “whoever”, “signature”, “subscription”, “writing” and a broader definition of “person”.) the words "person" and "whoever" include corporations, companies, associations, firms, partnerships, societies, and joint stock companies, as well as individuals

The USSC simply upheld what Congress already did.

Good to see so many correcting the assertion that we're a democracy. A Republic, with democratic elements.

51 posted on 06/27/2012 9:14:17 AM PDT by philman_36 (Pride breakfasted with plenty, dined with poverty, and supped with infamy. Benjamin Franklin)
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To: An American!

Thanks for the additional info and link.


52 posted on 06/27/2012 9:24:55 AM PDT by khelus
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To: An American!; P-Marlowe

Besides all the hoorah “buying elections” in this article, the author conveniently overlooks that the media, formerly the sole informant of the people, is somewhat less influential due to the money spent by pacs and candidates.

Even now, this decision does not even the playing field. With a limited number of media outlets, the pacs are subject to the whim of the outlets whether they’ll even allow them to buy advertising time.

At the same time, I realize that the owners of media outlets and the owners of the super-pacs are truly the ones being heard. MY VOICE is not heard to any real degree at all. That’s the truth. Does that “ruin” elections? I would say that the Founders devised a system of candidate selection and election that was necessary in a time with very slow and very limited communication. It caused them to rely on districts and regions to forward candidates and delegates.

If we could recapture that, then I think less powerful voices would again be heard. (That’s one reason I support caucuses over primaries any day of the week.)


53 posted on 06/27/2012 9:36:58 AM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! Those who truly support our troops pray for their victory!)
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To: An American!
I7ve wanted to make something like this for so long but was too lazy :p






Please copy/paste it wherever needed.. save the pic/link.. make posters, email it to friends..
54 posted on 06/27/2012 10:26:35 AM PDT by Bikkuri (Choose, a communist, socialist or Patriot)
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To: Bikkuri
Good one! Here are a few related ones



55 posted on 06/27/2012 10:42:25 AM PDT by An American! (Proud To Be An American!)
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To: SaraJohnson
The dips did not even offer what we actually are as an option. We are a constitutional republic. They cannot be taken seriously when they don’t even know the basic form of the government of the Nation.

They are also too stupid to appreciate that since time of the founding of our Country, the law has recognized corporations as a type of person -- not a naturual person -- but a person nevertheless, entitled to many of the consitutional protections in the Bill of Rights, including free speech, due process, equal protection, jury trial, confrontation of witnesses, etc. They are also too stupid to realize that labor unions, trade unions, Media Matters, Planned Parenthood, and other leftest advocacy groups are all corporate entities.

56 posted on 06/27/2012 10:48:48 AM PDT by Labyrinthos
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To: SaraJohnson
The dips did not even offer what we actually are as an option. We are a constitutional republic. They cannot be taken seriously when they don’t even know the basic form of the government of the Nation.

They are also too stupid to appreciate that since time of the founding of our Country, the law has recognized corporations as a type of person -- not a naturual person -- but a person nevertheless, entitled to many of the consitutional protections in the Bill of Rights, including free speech, due process, equal protection, jury trial, confrontation of witnesses, etc. They are also too stupid to realize that labor unions, trade unions, Media Matters, Planned Parenthood, and other leftest advocacy groups are all corporate entities.

57 posted on 06/27/2012 11:04:12 AM PDT by Labyrinthos
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To: An American!

Sorry, the Republic died with the 17th. The creators (sovereign states) have no voice in the government..Senators are now elected by the mob which is easily swayed with money. The interests of the States are no longer represented. The republic’s 3 legged stool has only 2 legs.


58 posted on 06/27/2012 4:24:26 PM PDT by Goreknowshowtocheat
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To: Wiser now

During my work life I’ve been “required” to be in a union, supervised union members and sat on the sidelines as an engineer watching new supervisors deal with union members. Never could quite figure out why people, in most cases, can’t stand up for themselves and talk to management. Over the years I interfaced with many union members I had known for over 30 years and in the end everything was managements fault and they were trying to screw the workers every chance they got!? No common sense left. Seems that they had all gotten more and more bitter over the years. In the end the shuttle program came to a close and now these former union folks still have no jobs.


59 posted on 06/28/2012 7:14:50 AM PDT by rktman
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