3 ms·

I don’t know, it’s not this prevalent everywhere so it is possible.

nradov 4y ago
Yes, it is possible to amend the US Constitution to carve out an explicit exception in the 1st Amendment for political donations. So far Congress hasn't made a serious effort to do so.
- yccs27 4y ago
  I'm not really familiar with the US constitution, but doesn't the 1st Amendment only protect speech, petition and assembly? Is there some part I'm missing or did a court classify campaign donations as speech?
  - krustyburger 4y ago
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_United_v._FEC https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_United_v._FEC
    - yccs27 4y ago
      Ah thanks, that's what I was missing. Such a mindboggling decision.
      - nradov 4y ago
        If you actually read the decision, there's nothing mind boggling about it. It is consistent with the US Constitution, and with Supreme Court precedents. The result of that decision has been terrible, but we can only reliably fix it through the defined constitutional amendment process.
ncallaway 4y ago
It wasn’t this prevalent here either until recently. The Supreme Court has decided that Congress isn’t allowed to regulate this kind of behavior. The Court has also chipped away at bribery statutes, narrowing them significantly. Unfortunately, without a constitutional amendment, new justices on the Supreme Court, or a revolution, there’s not a lot that can be done. I support an amendment, but with the current court it’s… we have a long way to go.
- dgfitz 4y ago
  Or the “honest and honerable” politicians stop accepting donations they know are evil. Ah never mind, we all know they can’t help it.
  - watwut 4y ago
    Money matter in campaign. Politicians accepting these have massive advantage over those who don't- so they end up more winning.
    - bloomingeek 4y ago
      In my opinion, this is the voters fault. Read up on the candidates, talk to other voters, if the candidate's ad is all fluff and no substance, don't vote for them. STOP believing non-journalistic cable TV channels who only profit from eyeballs and not the facts.
      - DangitBobby 4y ago
        Advertising is very effective. There's no point in blaming people for it, especially since they are the victims in this scenario.
        bloomingeek 4y ago
        "Victims", really?!?
        DangitBobby 4y ago
        Yes, people being fooled into electing corrupt government officials are victims. What's your objection? If I lie to you and steal from you, are you not a victim?
      - pksebben 4y ago
        your expectations of voters are unrealistic. not everyone has the time or the education to sift through all that and effectively parse it's meaning. Madison avenue figured this out a long time ago and it's been downhill ever since

Yes, it is possible to amend the US Constitution to carve out an explicit exception in the 1st Amendment for political donations. So far Congress hasn't made a serious effort to do so.

yccs27 4y ago
I'm not really familiar with the US constitution, but doesn't the 1st Amendment only protect speech, petition and assembly? Is there some part I'm missing or did a court classify campaign donations as speech?
- krustyburger 4y ago
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_United_v._FEC https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_United_v._FEC
  - yccs27 4y ago
    Ah thanks, that's what I was missing. Such a mindboggling decision.
    - nradov 4y ago
      If you actually read the decision, there's nothing mind boggling about it. It is consistent with the US Constitution, and with Supreme Court precedents. The result of that decision has been terrible, but we can only reliably fix it through the defined constitutional amendment process.

ncallaway 4y ago

It wasn’t this prevalent here either until recently. The Supreme Court has decided that Congress isn’t allowed to regulate this kind of behavior. The Court has also chipped away at bribery statutes, narrowing them significantly. Unfortunately, without a constitutional amendment, new justices on the Supreme Court, or a revolution, there’s not a lot that can be done. I support an amendment, but with the current court it’s… we have a long way to go.

dgfitz 4y ago
Or the “honest and honerable” politicians stop accepting donations they know are evil. Ah never mind, we all know they can’t help it.
- watwut 4y ago
  Money matter in campaign. Politicians accepting these have massive advantage over those who don't- so they end up more winning.
  - bloomingeek 4y ago
    In my opinion, this is the voters fault. Read up on the candidates, talk to other voters, if the candidate's ad is all fluff and no substance, don't vote for them. STOP believing non-journalistic cable TV channels who only profit from eyeballs and not the facts.
    - DangitBobby 4y ago
      Advertising is very effective. There's no point in blaming people for it, especially since they are the victims in this scenario.
      - bloomingeek 4y ago
        "Victims", really?!?
        DangitBobby 4y ago
        Yes, people being fooled into electing corrupt government officials are victims. What's your objection? If I lie to you and steal from you, are you not a victim?
    - pksebben 4y ago
      your expectations of voters are unrealistic. not everyone has the time or the education to sift through all that and effectively parse it's meaning. Madison avenue figured this out a long time ago and it's been downhill ever since