It is rare that we
have the opportunity to watch the destruction of a nation in slow motion, and
know the reason.
Similar to the
Philippines, the US Supreme Court has been stocked with political ideologues in
regal disguise, much as some judges wear no pants under their robes. Most of
the time, their renderings reflect a clear reading of the law, for the cases
are not political. These are intelligent people, after all, the sharpest legal
minds on the planet. They rule according to law.
But once in a while,
in landmark cases, they define a nation. They overlay an idea, an ideal, a
political ideology, upon the law. In such cases, judges are not simply
interpreting the law. They are making a morality, for good and for bad.
In 2010, the US
Supreme Court issued such a ruling. The deciding vote was 5 to 4, with the five
in favor being the conservative members of the Court:
For:
- Anthony M. Kennedy (author of majority opinion)
- John G. Roberts, Jr. (Chief Justice)
- Samuel A. Alito, Jr.
- Clarence Thomas
- Antonin Scalia
Against:
- John Paul Stevens (author of dissenting opinion)
- Steven G. Bryer
- Ruth Bader Ginsburg
- Sonia Sotomayor
Former President
Jimmy Carter labeled the decision the "stupidest decision" ever by a
Supreme Court.
What was the
decision, and why is it destroying America better than TNT could?
In the words of the NY Times:
" . . . a bitterly divided Supreme Court on Thursday
ruled that the government may not ban political spending by corporations
in candidate elections."
Note the term
"bitterly". The dissenting opinion was 90 pages long, and labeled
"passionate" by the NY Times.
No matter. One vote made the difference.
Those backing the
ruling said they were upholding free speech rights of individuals and
associations of individuals. Those against it said that corporate money
flooding into elections would corrupt democracy.
Such simple
reasoning. Such utter disregard for result.
So if you wonder why
the US Congress is such a bitter, divisive place right now, look to the Supreme
Court. If you wonder why the US cannot
find consensus on how to manage its debt or balance expense cuts with revenue
increases, look to the Supreme Court. If you wonder why the Republicans are
trying to destroy the President of their country, like so many snipers firing
from the congressional pulpits, look to the Supreme Court.
It is because the minority was correct.
Destruction of
checks and balances, of fair play, rests squarely with five men who decided
that unlimited amounts of money could be held out to politicians who said and
did the right things for the VESTED INTERESTS. Not the country.
You want to know why
Republicans speak with such a loud voice when they refuse to raise taxes on
rich Americans?
You want to know why
Democrats are resigning from the Congress in deep and bitter frustration
(Barney Frank the latest casualty)?
The morality of
money. The intellectual corruption of a Court, and an entire Congress.
That 2010 judicial
bomb was more powerful than megatons. It was the angriest bird of all, the
insertion of powerful vested interests directly into the political machine.
It was the work of
five intelligent men with an ideological agenda disguised, not very well, by
the cloaks of justice.
It is rare to be
able to identify a point in time when things went horribly wrong.
But there it is. One
vote, one fateful decision.
Boom!
Eisenhower was our last real president. JFK was never a true commander in chief as he was often left in the dark by the military and intelligence communities.
ReplyDeleteAnon, I think Bill Clinton was capable professionally, and certainly did a good job generating surpluses rather than deficits, but his personal life got a little over-exposed. Your view of JFK is one that I had not heard before, but fits given the dislike Hoover and others had for these upstart brothers. He also had rather robust personal escapades, it would seem.
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