American Citizens To Be Silenced

[Palehorse]

http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/27/opinion/zelizer-american-democracy-dead/index.html?hpt=op_t1

The title of the article Ex posted elsewhere, in my opinion, deserves a topic of its own. "Is American Democracy Dead?" is an opinion piece written by Julian E. Zelizer:

Julian E. Zelizer has been one of the pioneers in the revival of American political history. He is the author of Taxing America: Wilbur D. Mills, Congress, and the State, 1945-1975 (1998), On Capitol Hill: The Struggle to Reform Congress and its Consequences, 1948-2000 (2004), Arsenal of Democracy: The Politics of National Security—From World War II to the War on Terrorism (2010), Jimmy Carter (2010), and Conservatives in Power: The Reagan Years, 1981-1989 (2010) and Governing America: The Revival of Political History. In addition to his scholarly articles and book chapters, Zelizer is a frequent commentator in the international and national media on political history and contemporary politics. He has published over four hundred op-eds, including his weekly column on CNN.Com. The History News Network named Professor Zelizer as one of the top young historians in the country. He has received fellowships from the Brookings Institution, the Guggenheim Foundation, and the Russell Sage Foundation.

http://www.princeton.edu/~jzelizer/

Professor Zelizer highlights, within the article linked to by Ex, many of the points several here, including this poster, tried to tell everyone else since the inception of the granting of constitutional rights to corporations, and the removal of contribution limits toward political campaigns, candidates, and parties.

The ever widening gap between the haves and have-nots, is directly linked to the reality of the damage being imposed upon our government and this nation, by these acts.

The President pointed it out with the start of his first term, and since the beneficiaries of this legislation, the republican congress, refuse to acknowledge this damage, we are sinking ever lower each and every day. These corporate entities subsidize the incomes of the congressional miscreants and there is no way congress is going to ever stop it. 

[Exterminator]

"...a majority of Americans have little or no influence on the kinds of policies that the government produces. 'When a majority of citizens disagrees with economic elites and/or with organized interests, they generally lose.' Because of the way our system works, wealthy interests have the ability to block changes that they oppose."

[me]

Only an opinion not a fact.

[Palehorse]

Only an opinion not a fact.

A highly educated opinion; but then education is meaningless to you is it not? 

[me]

A highly educated opinion; but then education is meaningless to you is it not? 

There are highly educated opinions on the other side too.  Why are unions, who are huge contributor's to liberals not mentioned? 

[Palehorse]

There are highly educated opinions on the other side too.  Why are unions, who are huge contributor's to liberals not mentioned?

The study, which this opinion article was based upon, focused upon the influences wealth and special interest groups,  has upon the democratic process verses the average citizens. And its conclusion?

. . .When the preferences of economic elites and the stands of organized interest groups are controlled for, the preferences of the average American appear to have only a minuscule, near-zero, statistically non-significant impact upon public policy. . .

. . .But we believe that if policymaking is dominated by powerful business organizations and a small number of affluent Americans, then America's claims to being a democratic society are seriously threatened. . .

http://www.princeton.edu/~mgilens/Gilens%20homepage%20materials/Gilens%20and%20Page/Gilens%20and%20Page%202014-Testing%20Theories%203-7-14.pdf

Oh, and once again we see your "stellar" investigative technique in play here. You skimmed, (at best), the article but failed to review the supplemental data that resulted from the research performed, and upon which this opinion piece was based. (Link to it is just above this paragraph.)

Your allegation is false, since among the groups investigated as part of this were:


Airlines
American Bankers Association
American Council of Life Insurance American Farm Bureau Federation American Hospital Association
American Medical Association
Association of Trial Lawyers
Automobile companies
Chamber of Commerce
Computer software and hardware
Credit Union National Association
Defense contractors
Electric companies
Health Insurance Association
Independent Insurance Agents of America Motion Picture Association of America National Association of Broadcasters National Association of Home Builders National Association of Manufacturers National Association of Realtors
National Beer Wholesalers Association National Federation of Independent Business National Restaurant Association
Oil Companies
Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturers Recording Industry Association
Securities and investment companies Telephone companies
Tobacco companies

AARP
AFL-CIO
American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees
American Israel Public Affairs Committee
American Legion
Christian Coalition
International Brotherhood of Teamsters
National Rifle Association
National Right to Life Committee
United Auto Workers union
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S.

This listing appears on page 30 of the data produced and linked to above.

[Exterminator]

"...a majority of Americans have little or no influence on the kinds of policies that the government produces. 'When a majority of citizens disagrees with economic elites and/or with organized interests, they generally lose.' Because of the way our system works, wealthy interests have the ability to block changes that they oppose."

Guess I should have included the entire quote which started with, "Based on a sizable database of public opinion and a study of 1,779 policy initiatives over 20 years, Gilens and Page report that..."

There.  Now it's fact. 

[Locutus]

There.  Now it's fact. 

It's a fact that was aided and abetted by two disastrous Supreme Court rulings. 

[Palehorse]

It's a fact that was aided and abetted by two disastrous Supreme Court rulings.

FEC v. Citizens United and FEC v. McCutcheon, among others. 

[Palehorse]

The situation in the Ukraine with Russia, will be the future of the United States once the impact of this situation becomes crystal clear to the majority of the citizens being persecuted by this. Only by then it will be too late. Especially if they succeed in disarming everyone. . .

[Purplelady1040]

The situation in the Ukraine with Russia, will be the future of the United States once the impact of this situation becomes crystal clear to the majority of the citizens being persecuted by this. Only by then it will be too late. Especially if they succeed in disarming everyone. . .

Yep, Ukraine has assets that Russia has wanted for years. We knew that when we were over there in 2003 adopting our son. They are still very much a communist country in Ukraine.

[Palehorse]

Yep, Ukraine has assets that Russia has wanted for years. We knew that when we were over there in 2003 adopting our son. They are still very much a communist country in Ukraine.

When things get just as drastic here, it will be horrendous. Our Children will be wondering just how the hell their parents allowed this country to get to such a point; and their questions will be very valid.

It amazes me that the people of this country are so quick to defend the initiatives that are eating away at the very foundation that this country was founded and built upon. They turn a blind eye to that which will enslave their children and grandchildren, and drive this country to an internal war of the citizens verses the government at some point in the future.

How could we be so ignorant? How indeed! The majority of the citizens of this nation are nothing but bleating sheep. 

[Purplelady1040]

When things get just as drastic here, it will be horrendous. Our Children will be wondering just how the hell their parents allowed this country to get to such a point; and their questions will be very valid.

It amazes me that the people of this country are so quick to defend the initiatives that are eating away at the very foundation that this country was founded and built upon. They turn a blind eye to that which will enslave their children and grandchildren, and drive this country to an internal war of the citizens verses the government at some point in the future.

How could we be so ignorant? How indeed! The majority of the citizens of this nation are nothing but bleating sheep. 

Exactly, it is like we just turn a blind eye to everything and think that it can't happen to us.

[Henry Hawk]

Okay, I am going to throw my 2 cents in....Not looking to start anything...just my thoughts.

I don't doubt for a minute that many corporations will use this liberty in "free speech" in an attempt to mislead the public.  What's new?  This has been going on for ever.  But it IS a freedom given to us by our forefathers. I think "Make NO LAW" means exactly that.  Make NO Law.  Freedom IS that....Freedom.  The SCOTUS got it right!  They ruled correctly.

I believe it is up to us as individuals to utilize our brains, to be informed, to hear ALL sides and opinions if we choose.  NOT by prohibiting speech, but HAVING the freedom of it.  They way it was, was exactly that PROHIBITING.

I think we should more concerned about imposing "term limits" and having a mandatory disclosure of all political contributions and who contributes to who.

We have the right to listen or not listen.  We have the right to agree or disagree.  We have right to vote against or for who we want....NOTHING has changed.

If stock holders knew that a certain company or corporation was supporting an individual who you did not support, then all they have to do is withdraw their stock or no longer invest in that corp.  There are by far, WAY more employee's than employers.  WAY more borrowers than lenders...WAY more of "us" rather than "them".  WAY more than enough to vote agianst issues or policies we disagree with or to vote for those we agree with.  right?  I think if we ALL knew exactly what corps were supporting who, then we could hit them in their pocketbooks...and alleviate most of this problem.

It is still "We the people"!  We just need to take it more seriously.  WE, the people are the ones that pull the levers, NOT the corporations.  This ruling has not harmed WE THE PEOPLE at all, unless we let them.  I think it is just MORE propaganda to attack our constitution.  Many people don't like it.

The saying "The Price of Freedom is Eternal Vigilance" is something that hold true, but is slipping away.

[The Troll]

A highly educated opinion; but then education is meaningless to you is it not? 

  Hey Scab, supporter of Walmart and everything they do.     It is a known fact that unions work for their members which are the middle class working men and women. 

  The other contributors are for the Millionairs, Billionairs  and the Corporations who want all of the control and all of  the money this country produces.     "ME"  what a Sheeple. 

  But then "ME" is a die in the wool (Sheeple) Republican/Tea Party Wingnut.