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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBernie Sanders Storms The Supreme Court to Stop the Koch Brothers Theft of Democracy
Kind of a ridiculous title but what he had to say was anything but ridiculous.
Sen. Sanders said,
In the long history of our country people have fought and died for democracy. Democracy means one person, one vote. The fact that all of us have the opportunity to be involved in the political process to stand up for what we believe in. Three years ago, or so the Supreme Court decided that corporations are people. They decided that through independent expenditures billionaires could spend unlimited sums of money to impact elections.
Let me say one word to you right now about how relevant that is. As all of you know, the government of the United States shut down. Hundreds of thousands of workers are suffering, millions of people are not getting the services they need. Right now, as we speak, in the House of Representatives there are people who are being threatened that if they vote for a clean CR to open the government without destroying the Affordable Care Act then huge sums of money will be spent against them in the next election.
We are living in a society where a handful of people with incredible sums of money, folks like the Koch brothers and others, are undermining what this democracy is supposed to be about. The bottom line here is that if we do not want to move this nation to an oligarchic form of society where a handful of billionaires can determine the outcome of these elections, then it is imperative not only that we overturn Citizens United, but that we put a lid on how much people can contribute in elections.
Freedom of speech, in my view, does not mean the freedom to buy the United States government
Sen. Sanders was present at the Supreme Court to hear oral arguments in the case of McCutcheon vs. FEC. The Supreme Court will deciding the fate of the caps that limit how much donors can give to candidates and political organizations during a two year election cycle later in this term.
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http://www.politicususa.com/2013/10/08/bernie-sanders-storms-supreme-court-stop-koch-brothers-theft-democracy.html
gopiscrap
(23,763 posts)AnotherDreamWeaver
(2,852 posts)2naSalit
(86,743 posts)I wish we had representatives out here in the Rockies that were even half as much a representative with scruples as Bernie!!!
A True Statesman!
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)L0oniX
(31,493 posts)Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)Oilwellian
(12,647 posts)cali
(114,904 posts)if only dems nationwide were what the vt dem party is.
Not that I don't love the vt prog party too.
raging moderate
(4,307 posts)Thank you, Senator Sanders. Once again.
As always, Sen. Sanders on point and straightforward about the situation.
Samantha
(9,314 posts)"Freedom of speech, in my view, does not mean the freedom to buy the United States government." That is exactly what is happening, and in the aftermath, if they are successful, the new version of our government will hardly resemble what the majority of the people want it to look like.
Sam
UtahLib
(3,179 posts)FiveGoodMen
(20,018 posts)ChiciB1
(15,435 posts)another fabulous person/Democrat, I was devastated when he died on my birthday back in 2002! Then I found Bernie, who was actually listed as a Socialist when he was first elected. When I think of what these TWO could have done together for "we the people" it hurts my heart!
Of course, I know liberals are out of style these days, it was Ronnie Rayguns who began his tirade about us way back then, but I still find it comfortable to say loudly and proudly, that I are one! I realize concessions have to be made as time goes on, but this country is WAY OFF TRACK! Thanks Bernie, yes I want MORE OF YOU!
dotymed
(5,610 posts)YOU are the voice of reason and you do not hesitate to educate.
Iwillnevergiveup
(9,298 posts)needs our encouragement and support by the millions. Imagine how frustrating it must be for him speaking out and fighting constantly for the real values enshrined in the Constitution. Others in the House and Senate need to lend their voices, too.
K&R
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)Bernie is a middle of the road moderate socialist. He isn't a radical by any means.
What are the ones that sit by and silently allow TPTB dismantle the democracy? Quislings?
Art_from_Ark
(27,247 posts)Certainly he would have been a bit to the right of Bella Abzug. But there doesn't seem to be anybody else in the Senate who is willing to actively stand up for issues that were once staples of the Democratic Party, so that pretty much makes him a "radical" today.
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)must be measured by the position of the electorate on the various issues.
On "issues that were once staples of the Democratic Party" the American people are squarely in the Senator's camp. By a huge margin the people want to preserve entitlements. There is your center, not some imaginary center that the Fascists want to assign. Bernie is no radical, far from it.
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(108,136 posts)Lifelong Protester
(8,421 posts)Thanks for the post.
Voice for Peace
(13,141 posts)for waking so many folks up to what's right
under everyone's nose.
malaise
(269,144 posts)Rec
Grateful for Hope
(39,320 posts)This is excellent. Bernie Sanders is amazing.
Jefferson23
(30,099 posts)We are living in a society where a handful of people with incredible sums of money, folks like the Koch brothers and others, are undermining what this democracy is supposed to be about.
K&R for Bernie.
stage left
(2,965 posts)You're the best.
Spirochete
(5,264 posts)and less of Dianne Feinstein...
littlewolf
(3,813 posts)so we could nominate him for POTUS.
tecelote
(5,122 posts)"In the long history of our country people have fought and died for democracy. Democracy means one person, one vote."
They did not say one business and they did not know what a corporation was.
How can the Supreme Court change the definition of person?
Dark n Stormy Knight
(9,771 posts)see things as clearly and are willing to state them as blatantly as Sanders. I love him, but he has little power to affect the 1% completing their takeover of our country, their ownership of our government.
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)But I say, "If money = speech than speech is no longer free."
Dustlawyer
(10,497 posts)OF THE $ OUT!!! Publicly funded elections are much better.
WillyT
(72,631 posts)Uncle Joe
(58,389 posts)All their rumblings and meaningless votes against the ACA is a smokescreen.
Thanks for the thread, cali.
KansDem
(28,498 posts)The capitalists are after Social Security. Having a few billion isn't enough.
Uncle Joe
(58,389 posts)Social Security in no way, shape or form was.
fascisthunter
(29,381 posts)Rebellious Republican
(5,029 posts)Its called a Plutocracy.
plu·toc·ra·cy (pl-tkr-s)
n. pl. plu·toc·ra·cies
1. Government by the wealthy.
2. A wealthy class that controls a government.
3. A government or state in which the wealthy rule.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/plutocrat
flpoljunkie
(26,184 posts)Those without a voice are hurting the most in this insane Teabagger government shutdown.
Rebellious Republican
(5,029 posts)We must have been separated at child birth!
I just had this conversation with a certain Tampa Bay Times Journalist last night via email.
livingwagenow
(373 posts)silvershadow
(10,336 posts)and will defend our Democracy itself. I wish the Presidency upon him, knowing it will never be... Sigh.
demwing
(16,916 posts)Bernie is not alone. There are others who carry the flame...
cali
(114,904 posts)here- as they frequently do- act as if only one person in Congress is a real progressive. There's Warren and Grayson and Peter Welch and Sherrod Brown and quite a few more. Not enough, but Bernie is hardly the only one.