The unintended consequence of unlimited corporate donations.

As I was ruminating over the decision of the supreme court regarding corporate donations thus turning back the clock on corporate meddling in political contributions, something occurred to me.

They believed that corporations are just like humans, so therefore, deserve this same right when donating to politicians. They chose to take the view that if a corporation is a person, they then deserve the same rights as living breathing, working, fighting human beings.

Has the flood gates of corporate monies been opened to lay waste on the American and political landscape? Yes, of course, but... (and this is a big but)

I believe, and I'm not claiming to know more than the justices, but I think they might have missed something entirely when they made this ruling.

Just because these justices opened this door into massive corporate funds does not mean that all the donations will go to only the republican party.

I know, thank you Mister Obvious. But I'm also not saying that the donations will also only go to the Democrats either, or a combination of both. That's too blatant.

I'm talking about the rise of 3rd, 4th and 5th viable political parties.

All the wealthy people of the world can now contribute to any American political party they want. And that certainly doesn't mean that they will only contribute to the two party system.

I think this ruling will bust open the political playing field, giving the conservatives on the supreme court a very unintended consequence to their ruling.

100+ years ago, when the original ruling limited corporate donations, it was done so that the monopolies back then, which were ruled by America's elite and who were solely American owned and who were angry at being "trust busted", thus limiting their political control and manipulation.

They waited for the day that they would get their come comeuppance.

That day has come but those original industrial giants are long gone and have been replaced by multi-nationals, located around the world. It's no longer about "American business first", it's about what benefits who and where.

So there is absolutely nothing that says that just because this ruling allows unlimited corporate donations, that those funds will go specifically to republican or democrats.

Given the corporate funded rise of the tea baggers via astroturf organizations, I suspect, there will now be more direct corporate donations into the tea baggers/libertarian party.

Given the dissatisfaction of the left, I suspect, left leaning corporations will give to them rather than the centrist democrats.

And I can't even predict what other groups will arise due to private interests. The Oil Lobbyist become a political party? The Chinese sympathizer party? The South American party? These imagined parties could be supported via outside the American political systems with direct corporate money.

Scalia, Roberts and the rest have just squarely place the American political system into an area of unexpected consequence. Honestly, I don't think they were thinking that far down the road and were just looking for immediate gratification.

(I'm waiting for the all political campaign channel)

they want to ensure that they are the only ones receiving bribes and they want to make sure that no one moves in on their turf. They will use their Corporate Sugardaddies to make damn sure that no viable 3rd party rises to anywhere near their level.

Ever seen a mob movie or crooked cop movie, they hate when someone else tries to move in on their turf. Upstarts will be crushed. The Dems and Pukes will do whatever biding the corpos want them to do, no matter how extreme, evil, or dangerous.

Two parties are cheaper for the corporations than three.

This will lessen that likelihood.

The already daunting task of creating/funding 3rd parties will be made immeasurably harder in the face of unlimited cash.

I have no doubt there will unintended consequences. The point you raise is interesting ... We are so focused on corporations vs people that we are missing the very real probability that industries will be attacking each other.... companies will be doing battle over every little thing to gain whatever perceived edge, all completeley separate (but not exclusive) of what they do as a bloc to and against the People. We are talking about such obscene amounts of money that really, anything is possible.

whichever Party.

You have to see the advantage to also making sure that no party has all the chips.

Outside the US entities may find that more attractive then keeping the status quo.

It used to be illegal to take campaign contributions from non-Americans... Now, the richest nations can make the biggest impact on our elections. They can pour money into ads that lie about the candidates they don't want.

Nothing says campaign ads have to be honest and some people will believe anything told to them. For example, if the Saudis don't want President Obama to be re-elected, they can put up ads showing his "Kenyan Birth Certificate" - with money, anything is possible.

Say it loud enough and often enough and you get believers.