Mid-Term Elections on the Planet of the Apes Pt 2… Aftermath
I'll tip my hat to the new constitution
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play… just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray… We don't get fooled again
Don't get fooled again!
Meet the new Boss… same as the old Boss…
Having a few days to reflect upon the fallout from the 2010 mid-term elections, a few stark socio-political realities came into focus. Most apparent was the adverse effect that new rules concerning political contributions has had on our electoral process. Our very own Supreme Court has removed any hope for fairness and honesty in future political campaigns. In January of this year, the Supreme Court ruled that the government may not ban political spending by corporations, labor unions or other organizations in elections. The court’s majority in “Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission” swept aside a century-old doctrine in election law, ruling that the campaign finance restriction violated the First Amendment’s free speech principles… essentially granting corporate entities sentient citizenry status.
In that ruling, the dissenting justices predicted that this would open the floodgates to corporate money and would corrupt the democratic process. Enter Karl Rove and his PAC (political action committee), “American Crossroads” and the newly formed American Crossroads GPS. Unlike Roves’ earlier PAC, American Crossroads GPS promises to protect donor anonymity. This organization has raised millions of dollars and poured them into not only national and state campaigns but local elections as well. Thanks to the Supreme Court, we have no way of knowing where the money is coming from, or from whom.
This makes the American political system “the best that money can buy”.
Another revelation concerns the Tea Party and it’s funding. Although the origins of the Tea Party were of humble and sincere intent, they have been high-jacked by a few wealthy individuals (and corporations) now protected by the Supreme Court ruling. I don’t want to name any names… but their initials are… David and Charles Koch. The Koch brothers are big oil. In an article written by Jane Mayer of “The New Yorker,” David Koch’s PAC “Americans or Prosperity Foundation” has allegedly been bankrolling the Tea Party from it’s inception. With the money comes influence on the direction of the Tea Party. So much for grass roots movements.
The final reflection on the mid-terms is the starling absence of any mention of the two bloody wars our nation is waging in Iraq and Afghanistan. Not one word. What sickens my heart is this… what kind of a society are we? Are we a people that stand for liberty and justice for all? Or are we a imperialistic nation of invading crusaders… occupying the cradle of civilization in the interests of the oil barons? The sad reality is apparently the latter. This is not good for our souls… this is a horrific karmic debt that will soon come due… if it hasn’t already.
Take a bow for the new revolution
Smile and grin at the change all around
Pick up my guitar and play… just like yesterday
Then I'll get on my knees and pray… We don't get fooled again
Don't get fooled again!
Meet the new Boss… same as the old Boss…
– from “Won’t get fooled again” by The Who
Having a few days to reflect upon the fallout from the 2010 mid-term elections, a few stark socio-political realities came into focus. Most apparent was the adverse effect that new rules concerning political contributions has had on our electoral process. Our very own Supreme Court has removed any hope for fairness and honesty in future political campaigns. In January of this year, the Supreme Court ruled that the government may not ban political spending by corporations, labor unions or other organizations in elections. The court’s majority in “Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission” swept aside a century-old doctrine in election law, ruling that the campaign finance restriction violated the First Amendment’s free speech principles… essentially granting corporate entities sentient citizenry status.In that ruling, the dissenting justices predicted that this would open the floodgates to corporate money and would corrupt the democratic process. Enter Karl Rove and his PAC (political action committee), “American Crossroads” and the newly formed American Crossroads GPS. Unlike Roves’ earlier PAC, American Crossroads GPS promises to protect donor anonymity. This organization has raised millions of dollars and poured them into not only national and state campaigns but local elections as well. Thanks to the Supreme Court, we have no way of knowing where the money is coming from, or from whom.
This makes the American political system “the best that money can buy”.
Another revelation concerns the Tea Party and it’s funding. Although the origins of the Tea Party were of humble and sincere intent, they have been high-jacked by a few wealthy individuals (and corporations) now protected by the Supreme Court ruling. I don’t want to name any names… but their initials are… David and Charles Koch. The Koch brothers are big oil. In an article written by Jane Mayer of “The New Yorker,” David Koch’s PAC “Americans or Prosperity Foundation” has allegedly been bankrolling the Tea Party from it’s inception. With the money comes influence on the direction of the Tea Party. So much for grass roots movements.
The final reflection on the mid-terms is the starling absence of any mention of the two bloody wars our nation is waging in Iraq and Afghanistan. Not one word. What sickens my heart is this… what kind of a society are we? Are we a people that stand for liberty and justice for all? Or are we a imperialistic nation of invading crusaders… occupying the cradle of civilization in the interests of the oil barons? The sad reality is apparently the latter. This is not good for our souls… this is a horrific karmic debt that will soon come due… if it hasn’t already.
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