(Community Matters) First, I’m freeballing here – history isn’t my forte, and I’m certainly no lawyer. If I tried taking the time to research and diligently fact check, I’d never get these thoughts down “on paper.” I’ll count on those much more learned to correct my faulty citations and assumptions.
The debate on whether our federal government should promote the interests of business while leaving the people’s business to the states goes back to Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson – distinguishing the Federalist Party from the Democratic Party.
Hamilton’s economic ideas were adopted by the Whig Party, predecessor to today’s Republican Party. Hamilton’s ideas about the federal government’s role in promoting the interests of business, commerce and trade reached another high during George W. Bush’s administration – when many cabinet agencies simply suspended their role in overisght and regulation, reinterpreted rules in favor of business, and during which John Roberts was appointed to the Supreme Court. We often talk about a conservative majority on today’s court, but I’m not sure this is as adequate a description as a corporate majority.
So, the debate about the essential role of business in our country’s governance and our government’s role in promoting business isn’t new – it’s as old as our nation. This debate simply seems as high pitched today as it’s been since before the Great Depression.
Are corporations granted rights under our constitution? I’d always thought of corporations as man-made animals granted life by the states and for which states could dictate their rights and responsibilities – including paying taxes in exchange for limiting the liability of their owners. But, the Supreme Court decided in the 19th century that corporations are a legal person. The current Supreme Court bumped this up significantly earlier this year, deciding that Congress cannot limit their political participation . . . . . wow, the preamble longer than the thesis.
Rupert Murdoch and Newscorp – Fox News – are they examples of no reins? It was announced last week that NewsCorp donated $1 million to the Republican Governors Association. Certainly Rupert Murdoch is not known for his largesse. What could he want? Changes to FCC regulations perhaps? The FCC currently limits the number of stations, the cross over in media, and Murdoch wants a much larger, dominant share in all forms. And Fox News – I contend it doesn’t even try to hide its bias, even its willingness to slant its reporting – hell , as we learned, through proxy even make up its stories. It froths up an electorate driven by its vulnerabilities, frightened because our country is changing, rightly or wrongly concerned that our country’s values & principles are being challenged. Glenn Beck, Bill O’Reilly . . . . these guys are entertainers, paid millions of dollars to generate audiences and advertising revenues, and perhaps (let’s even say unknowingly) to move these vulnerable, frightened and concerned people to unknowingly support the candidates that’ll give Rupert what he wants. Imagine the unbridled influence of a corporation with near monopolistic power in every form of media, in every geography. http://www.cjr.org/behind_the_news/the_oreilly_factor.php
The US Chamber of Commerce spending $75 million in the 2010 election cycle, on top of nearly $200 million spent lobbying during this Congressional cycle. The financial industry spending and donating nearly a billion dollars. Ditto the insurance industry during healthcare reform. And, yes, mostly on the other side, unions will spend upwards of $150 million on the 2010 elections, though they rarely represent business interests over that of individuals.
Which party reigns represents trillions of dollars in profits to powerful individuals and corporations. We’re in the middle of a street fight. Whether 2013 – 2021 looks like 2001 – 2008 when the rich became much much richer, when the economic chasm between haves and have nots became a gulf threatening our democracy or like 1993 – 2000 when poverty decreased and the middle class thrived, these two scenarios are at play in our current elections – and the field increasingly feels tilted, indeed money sometimes rules.
Community Matters 