2010-01-21, 22:19 | Link #5561 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: East Cupcake
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^Corporations can support whomever they wish...they just can't give their candidate unlimited funds...or at least they couldn't....
Besides, what happens if the corporation is actually owned by non-Americans? There are various corporations that are stationed in America that are actually owned by foreign businesses. Now, those foreign business owners (even if directed by an American shareholder) can use any amount of money they wish to help which ever candidate they desire... In the end, the SC decision just seems so unnecessary... |
2010-01-21, 22:59 | Link #5564 |
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Boston
Age: 35
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The first amendment shouldn't, and doesn't, solely apply to individuals. A newspaper is a company and they've been endorsing candidates forever.
It's fair to assume the workers in a coal company would be opposed to legislation banning coal mining. So if lawmakers are campaigning to ban coal mining, coal companies should be able to spend money on the campaign in protest. Just as civil liberties NGOs should be able to spend money on campaigns to support human rights. |
2010-01-22, 00:19 | Link #5565 |
Senior Member
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This is from a Moderator on a political section of the corvetteforum I'm a member of. He is extremely intelligent when it comes to U.S. Political matters and far more experienced with higher credentials than I am about this topic. He's also a Libertarian and doesn't belong to either major political party.
Spoiler:
I agree with him in a lot of ways, but I still feel uneasy. I don't really know where I stand on this issue. |
2010-01-22, 00:27 | Link #5566 | ||
Obey the Darkly Cute ...
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 66
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We've already seen the only way shareholders can usually say anything is to sell/buy. They're pretty much herded by Boards of Directors. Modern multi-level corporations simply buy their competition... try boycotting a corporation and you'll usually find the alternatives are owned by the same corporation. Quote:
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2010-01-22, 00:37 | Link #5567 |
Senior Member
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As I said at the end of my post, I'm still uncertain where I stand on this. In the end though, we still have to abide by the Constitution. And if the Supreme Court rules this way, there isn't much you can do without a Constitutional Amendment. Which is to say, rather difficult to pass.
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2010-01-22, 00:59 | Link #5571 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Age: 35
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@justinstrife... Actually the israel lobby is one of the top contributors to American politician, in fact most policies that benefit Israel are the fundamental reasons why arab's and the west have such a strained relationship. |
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2010-01-22, 01:01 | Link #5572 | |
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Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Boston
Age: 35
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I would love it if the Afghan and Iraqi people influenced elections in America actually. |
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2010-01-22, 01:03 | Link #5573 | |
Obey the Darkly Cute ...
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 66
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2010-01-22, 01:06 | Link #5574 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Age: 35
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5-4 split decision is exactly a case where there is question of legality and intention of the constitution whereas in Brown v Board it was 9-0 a definitive yea to the end of segregation. Clearly there was a discussion among the justices so to say that it's cut and dry is just ridiculous.
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2010-01-22, 01:57 | Link #5576 | |
Senior Member
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Can't say I've seen any evidence that Israel manipulates this country enough to be #1. We supply billions to arab countries in foreign aid just as we do to Israel and have even supplied others with military hardware. Israel didn't want us in Iraq, yet we went in anyway. |
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2010-01-22, 02:35 | Link #5577 |
Obey the Darkly Cute ...
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 66
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The usual "conspiracy" theory is that the underlying reason for the Iraq invasion was to create our own permanent occupation force and bases there. This would take the heat off of Saudi Arabia by eliminating our bases there... and reduce our dependence on Israel as a deployment zone. The oil field control redistribution was gravy for Cheney's buddies.
Meh, whatever, YMMV
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2010-01-22, 03:43 | Link #5578 |
Baruk Khazad
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: finland
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Here's what a lobbyist has to say:
We have got a million we can spend advertising for you or against you — whichever one you want,’ ” a lobbyist can tell lawmakers, said Lawrence M. Noble, a lawyer at Skadden Arps in Washington and former general counsel of the Federal Election Commission.http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/22/us...donate.html?hp In other words, any lawmaker who votes against the corporations interests will receive the threat that unless they change their opinion, their opponents will get tons of money for their campaigns. |
2010-01-22, 04:03 | Link #5579 | |
Asuki-tan Kairin ↓
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Fürth (GER)
Age: 43
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Quote:
More important is who has influence on your local media. Israel's lobby groups are far more present in e.g. Germany or the USA then chinese or other national lobby groups. In the case of Israel this coincides with general jewish interests (which are often hard to tell apart). Religion seems to be a very strong factor in general, considering there are other, even stronger christian lobbies in the USA. Which is not unsurprising since (warning sarcasm), modern feudalism doesn't work without a lot of idiots who follow a religion blindly. So, one could assume a certain political interest here, coming from the power elites (those who are in power). Media is btw. the complementing part for religion. If both are combined in a clever way, the power elites can rule over the stupid masses by keeping them misinformed. That is the way, the whole western world opperates. No major politician can be free of the influence of lobbying (be it directly or indirectly). If I was sracastic I'ld say: typically voting is just to keep the masses entertaint and make them believe they have some power to decide things. However, in the end you will always get what the big influential lobbies want (whether they have much money or not is not so important... but admittedly lobbying without a substantial amount of money does not really work - except you have someone co-lobbying who has much money or the same interests.. at least partially). Anyway... for lobbying in foreign countries, there exists a best practice if you lack economic power that utilizes religious matters. Now that is a weak point of China thus their lobbying activities are more based on economic pressure. When I said economical dependency is a way to modern colonialization, then this applies only for situations where a strong economical power is faced with weak economic powers. If the powers are equally strong, it is more like either an economic symbiosis or an economic cold war (or both of them in varying degrees, and according to national interest). (I need to end this at this point... I have to go to work)
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2010-01-22, 09:40 | Link #5580 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Age: 35
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current affairs, discussion, international |
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