Political Donors Should Be Human

As of Friday, June 29, 2012

The logic of today’s American social values defies easy understanding.

The Supreme Court has recently created a class of artificial citizens that puts traditional democracy at risk by elevating corporations, some international, to the status of “personhood,” which allows them to donate unlimited sums to political causes and spend their profits on political gain instead of paying dividends to stockholders or employees.

If corporate executives care enough to support a candidate or political cause, they can certainly afford to do so out of their own well-compensated pockets.

On the other hand, North Carolina and other states have passed laws and amendments that strike down “personhood” for some real human beings by restricting the privilege of marriage to heterosexuals.

I believe the United States would be a truer democracy if our Constitution reserved the right of contributing to political campaigns to individual, genuine, human persons who may actually become qualified to vote.

You can’t kiss a corporation.

Richard Siege

Southern Pines

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irishman 10 months, 3 weeks ago

I assume you are also in favor of banning political spending by unions.

emb6683 10 months, 3 weeks ago

I don't agree with the Supreme Court decision either, but most people who complain about it, like the writer, conveniently omit the fact that the decision also includes labor unions in that same category of artificial citizens as corporations, and allws them to donate unlimited sums to their political candidates.

And while it is true that you can't kiss a corporation, politicians for decades have demonstrated that you can, in fact, kiss a labor union. At least you can kiss a particular part of their anatomy.

Arestorer 10 months, 2 weeks ago

One possible sollution to Corp's. wanting to be the same as an individual person, Would be to charge them the same taxes as an individual person..No more Corp. deductions...Se how long they want to retain the status...

Bentpan 10 months, 2 weeks ago

Arestorer 1 hour, 12 minutes ago Can we assume you'd have no problem with unions paying at the same tax level. However I will agree neither Corp. nor Unions ( especialy public unions ) should be allowed political purchasing power, for that is exactly what it has become and it is obscene.

Arestorer 10 months, 2 weeks ago

No problems with Unions paying up....I would rather see them escentially go away....And the money thats being allowed to be spent, is obscene...Ive also, always had distain for the Lobbiest system...And the Electorate Collage syst.

JD 10 months, 2 weeks ago

I want a government not for sale.

Corporations may be people my friends, but they are 'better' people. They don't go to jail, do not have to disclose corporate spending, can use publicly traded money to purchase politicians. The list goes on and on about how corporations and super pacs have all the benefits of personhood with none of the drawbacks. I did not know people were too big to fail, but these ones are just that.

Arestorer 10 months, 2 weeks ago

Making Corp's people, has to be THE Court Decision for the History books...

Toda 10 months, 2 weeks ago

Bentpan => Unions don't pay taxes because they are not-for-profit. Union members pay taxes just like the rest of the working class. Union members pay dues and contribute to political candidates like the North Carolina Home Builders Association and teachers, SENAC et al...

Build Pac is a political fund that Home Builders contribute to for political favors. They as well as educators and retired state employees gave considerable amounts to Jerry Tillman's campaign. The medical community and pharmacological companies gave a lot of money.

Next trip to your pharmacy, thank Tillman for the cost of your drugs....

The_AnonymusProfit 10 months, 2 weeks ago

Toda dumb comment.

As to lobbies they are important as they insure that minorities will always have a strong voice. As to super pacs. How many of you are actually swayed by political ads? If you are then you deserve to be lied to.

skylinefirepest 10 months, 2 weeks ago

Believe it or not I agree with you on this one JD. I think the court made a mistake on that one just like I think it made a mistake on Obamacare. Any law that takes the addition of over sixteen thousand new tax agents has to be bad law on the face of it.

RmeMP 10 months, 2 weeks ago

The last paragraph in this letter show exactly how ignorant so many Americans are... For the umteenth time folks, the Unites States of America is a REPUBLIC - not a Democracy!

The United States would not be a "truer Democracy" no matter what, because we are not a Democracy.

Public government education at its best folks...

The_AnonymusProfit 10 months, 2 weeks ago

Rmemp we are a republic and a democracy depending on what level of government one is discussing. And they work toe in toe. On the federal level we are more of a republic. On the state and especially thw local level we are more of a democracy.

RmeMP 10 months, 2 weeks ago

AP, we agree on a year deal of subjects.

The writer was obviously speaking on a federal level, hence my above comment. It just disheartens me at the level ignorance displayed by so many of us Americans. It is truly sad how many people do not know the history of this great nation - to include its founding principles.