VivirLatino

The bad news just keeps coming and coming. In a fairly predictable but shocking nonetheless, decision, the Supreme Court ruled yesterday that corporations were allowed unrestricted spending and donations for political campaigns. The reasoning? If spending was restricted, corporations (that’s right, *corporations*) free speech would be infringed upon.

What this ruling means is that for the 2010 election, at least, corporations will rule. Most analysts agree that we can’t forecast the entirety of what elections will look like–but most are agreeing that there will be an unprecedented amount of money spent, the commercials and other media outreach will be overwhelming, and there will be no way at all for citizens to make their voices heard, except through their membership to organizations like Unions.

Now, of course, I am really happy that Unions are suddenly relevant again. But the idea that a corporation that is owned by shareholders (who are NOT all U.S. citizens) will have this unprecedented ability to influence elections is stunning to me.

After we all go to such extremes to insure that “Teh Illegalz” not have any influence at all in the U.S.–we’re just going to hand over our basic fundamental rights so easily? Without a fight even? With clapping and cheering from big portions of the U.S. citizenry?

Here is a group attempting to organize against this ruling. Now is the time to truly consider what the constitution means to us. And what “U.S. Citizen” means to us. Do we intend to cut off our nose to spite our face?