The U.S. Supreme Court today continued a recent trend of loosening political campaign finance restrictions. People can now donate much more money to a politician, whereas before the law had prohibited donations over a certain amount from individual people.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-26855657
This follows a 2010 case in which the Supreme Court had previously also loosened regulations - a clear trend. I wonder what comes next.
Often what is our strength proves a concomitant weakness - on paper, the U.S. legal system provides strong support for freedom of expression. That is, the right to make yourself heard, which in the eyes of the Supreme Court means whom you choose to support via campaign contributions. Personal expression is great (women especially feel the need to 'express themselves'). But the end result of today's ruling is that moneyed interests have even more power to influence the American political landscape, and the world as a result.
Freedom of expression in the U.S. is a misnomer because although it may be protected by the government, this applies only in the public sphere. The U.S. is a conformist, corporate-dominated, political correct country in which you can't voice personal opinions in the workplace. Nor even really in the private sphere, because the U.S. government is spying on everyone, even outside its borders. You really have to watch what you say, which means that our right to freedom of expression is really not that protected after all.
This is a big ruling.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-26855657
This follows a 2010 case in which the Supreme Court had previously also loosened regulations - a clear trend. I wonder what comes next.
Often what is our strength proves a concomitant weakness - on paper, the U.S. legal system provides strong support for freedom of expression. That is, the right to make yourself heard, which in the eyes of the Supreme Court means whom you choose to support via campaign contributions. Personal expression is great (women especially feel the need to 'express themselves'). But the end result of today's ruling is that moneyed interests have even more power to influence the American political landscape, and the world as a result.
Freedom of expression in the U.S. is a misnomer because although it may be protected by the government, this applies only in the public sphere. The U.S. is a conformist, corporate-dominated, political correct country in which you can't voice personal opinions in the workplace. Nor even really in the private sphere, because the U.S. government is spying on everyone, even outside its borders. You really have to watch what you say, which means that our right to freedom of expression is really not that protected after all.
This is a big ruling.