Yesterday's arctic blast didn't dissuade about one-hundred, We the People, from attending the rally marking the one-year anniversary of the Supreme Court's monumental and disastrous decision, Citizens United v. FEC. The wind blew furiously out of the north, but We the People held fast to the concept of true democracy, while holding up, equally tight, a giant (20’ x 210’) replica of the original Preamble to the Constitution. It was a celebration of our inalienable rights, as they were intended, for actual blood-in-our-veins persons (not the corporate variety), who also happen to have this unending capacity to breathe unpolluted air, drink clean water, along with other human qualities that make it impossible to compete on even ground with corporate entities and their unlimited "speech" and interminable lives.
The turnout was low, disappointingly small to me, but the recognition and understanding has to start somewhere. The movement has to begin within our conscience body, that almost unrecognizable part of ourselves that comes to the forefront when we see wrongs that need to be righted and injustices made whole. It's that portion that realizes our busy lives, with all the routine and trivial minutia, finally takes a backseat. That's why I chose, and will continue to choose, to stand-up for democracy; why I stand against oppression, no matter the oppressor. I've recognized the real enemy, and as Pogo famously said, it is us.
Read John Nichols' excellent article from yesterday. He talks about the numerous community events that took place yesterday, including the one I attended on the Capitol lawn. Grassroots movements: it's where every extraordinary and mighty truth-against-power and power-to-the-people action had its beginning. It has to start somewhere.
P.S. I'll never listen to A Day in the Life in the same way again. If you're a child of the '60s, or even a Beatles aficionado, you'll know what I mean. Special thanks, and kudos, to The Coffee Party U.S.A.
4 comments:
Wonderful! Thanks for being there, and thanks for the info! This is THE big issue, one that underlies all the others, but most don't recognize it as that. But you can bet "they" do.
"They the investor class" have been working towards this for decades. Idiot flunky Dubya did his job and stacked the court with these partisan, activist judges who are so flagrant in their disrespect for "we the people" that they should be impeached. They have no place on the bench - or shouldn't have.
A good friend told me about an article that Thom Hartmann wrote yesterday, indicating that the high court's Citizens United decision could be overturned soon.
In a petition to the Department of Justice, the organization Common Cause believes there was an overt "conflict of interest" by Justices Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia, and that they should have recused themselves from the case. It appears both justices had participated in political strategy sessions, possibly while the case was pending, with corporate leaders whose political aims were advanced by the decision.
This is huge news! I'll have more on it later.
And you're right, Anna, this topic ("corporate personhood") underlies just about every political, economic, and societal "challenge" we experience today -- bar none!
Loved that video, J.G!
The money turns them on. Priceless!
Tom, I knew if anybody would appreciate this video, it would be you!
Thanks for commenting, and especially for your moral and continuing support.
Best wishes,
J.G.
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