The idea behind the article, "Amerika, Inc.," [1] was to briefly outline and describe what the author saw as the corporatism dominating in America. How the tentacles of our corporate state reached everywhere affecting the ultimate fate of the country and its people, by exercising its influence solely to the benefit of its interests while using the people as pawns and commodities in a democracy these interests have usurped; in effect an insidious, malevolent presence masquerading as benevolent and beneficial to the people.
And now with the advent of the Supreme Court's ruling in "Citizens United" v/s "FEC" which served to unleash the big corporate and special interests cash to completely overwhelm and corrupt the electoral process, their dominance became sanctified under the law.
Regrettably, "Citizens" is now settled law and it can't be reheard, but the Court that sanctioned it can be overcome. Like women's suffrage and slavery before it there is a way to change settled law and that's to amend the Constitution.
Our history is littered with horrendously bad Court decisions that were later overturned by amending the Constitution not only slavery and women's suffrage, but "Jim Crow" laws and segregation and prohibition to name some prominent issues. These amendments took years to be approved by the states before they became a part of the Constitution. But they were finally approved.
Today we are in a different time and place in our history. We are at a precipice where the experiment that began some 234 years ago is in jeopardy and unless we act that experiment in bringing about a people's democracy could end.
Luckily there exist a few legislators in Congress, notably in the House that recognize the plight of the country in light of the "Citizens United" ruling by the Court.
Representative Donna Edwards (D. MD.) along with 25 co- sponsoring lawmakers have introduced such an amendment to the Constitution in the House. To date it remains in committee.
"Freespeechforpeople.org" is a web site and group that has picked up the challenge and is in the forefront to make people aware of the Court's decision in "Citizens" as well as the Edward's amendment.
The site asks people to sign on and take action in support of this amendment appropriately called the "Free Speech for People Amendment".
This writer strongly urges readers to visit the "Freespeechforpeople.org" site, join the campaign, spread the word and take their own action.
[1] "Amerika, Inc.", by Dave Lefcourt, OPEDNEWS.com, November 9, 2010
