Citizens United. Thatâs the name of a notorious Supreme Court decision 6 years ago, in which most election financing constraints -- state, federal, and local --were overturned in the name of âfree speechâ --- that is, for those who can afford it.
As a result, all U.S. elections are subject to poisoning by unlimited money from large corporations and rich people. Most of us know this is wrong, but what can we do about it?
Thatâs the purpose of a talk given January 13, 2016 by distinguished attorney/author Jeff Clements in Concord, sponsored by the League of Women Voters there. Truth and Justice Radio is proud to present our recording of that talk. It begins with two minutes of introductions.
Listeners may be surprised to learn that Citizens United is actually 8th in a historical series of really bad U.S. Supreme Court decisions, each of which triggered response by the people to enact constitutional amendments in order to reverse those decisions.
Jeff Clements is author of two books: Corporations Are Not People: Reclaiming Democracy from Big Money and Global Corporations (2014) and Corporations Are Not People: Why They Have More Rights Than You Do and What You Can Do About It (2012). He co-founded Free Speech For People in 2009, after representing several public interest organizations with a Supreme Court amicus brief in the Citizens United case. Now in private practice, he has served as Assistant Attorney General and Chief of the Public Protection Bureau in the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office.
This was recorded for, and broadcast by, Truth and Justice Radio, aired Sundays 6-10am ET on WZBC 90.3FM, Newton, MA, streaming and archived for two weeks at wzbc.org. TJR's primitive website is truthandjusticeradio.org and its slogan is âFour hours of spirited examination of warmaking, empire, corrupt justice, engineered poverty, lying politicians, jingoism, corporate criminality, and media disinformation.â We welcome your corrections and comments at tjr@bluebottle.com.
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