Progressive leaders agree — SCOTUS went too far, granting corporations the same rights as people, in the justices’ controversial decision in Citizens United v. FEC. In fact, Public Citizen’s call for a constitutional amendment to overturn the decision has been picking up steam.
Alan Colmes, progressive political commentator and blogger, featured Public Citizen president Robert Weissman and his proposal for an amendment on his blog, Liberaland. (I wonder what his political leanings are…) His posting also links to The Nation story, in which Weissman reacts to Justice Alito’s “not true” comment during President Obama’s State of the Union address last Wednesday.
The BookGuy
A constitutional amendment would fix the problem, but I really don’t see any chance in hell.
Democrats couldn’t get much big stuff passed with 60 votes. Can’t seem to manage anything with 59. They’d need a majority of Governors.
I’m not saying it’s impossible, with Obama at the head and enough good luck maybe they could get enough public interest behind this to make a difference. But it would be damn near close to impossible.
A much easier and solution, though not as clean as the constitutional amendment would be having Congress pass a law changing the number of Justices from 9 to 11. Obama appoints two more Justices, making sure they’re willing to overturn this. Then the 5/4 decision becomes a 6/5 decision.
February 3, 2010 at 1:56 am
Judy Stevens
If we felt that way we wouldn’t have an amendment to the Constitution to give women and blacks the vote. The number of amendments are many. It is difficult for a reason.
Ratification for amendment takes 2/3rd of the states passage. The Constitution is contract between the people (of each state) and the government. It limits and states the powers allowed. We the people have to do it for good reason. Those in power like it the way it is.
Every state should have an amendment to deny Corporate Personhood to the Constitution on the ballot this November. I’m sure we’d have the votes since people are outraged by it. It isn’t a party issue but one of freedom to run our own government.
It was a lowly clerk who tried to make it law calling corporations “humans”. It was no judge or court. This Supreme Court decided to write law. We should make it clear once and for all corporations are not “humans” but have even more power because of their wealth and power. They don’t belong ruling in a democracy.
April 12, 2010 at 9:15 am