Thursday, June 7, 2012

Thom Hartmann: Is our democracy is now in its death throes?


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Thanks to the Supreme Court, our democracy is now in deep trouble. Fueled by tens of millions of dollars in out-of-state corporate and billionaire cash - giving him an 8-to-1 spending advantage over his Democratic opponent - Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker prevailed in Tuesday night's recall election. This is the second major election in the post-Citizens United era - and for the second straight time organized money beat organized people - just like what happened in 2010 when Tea Party Republicans swept into Congress with the help of over $300 million in outside corporate cash. In a slight consolation - Democrats may take control of the state Senate - as one Republican state Senator out of four facing a recall appears to be headed for a defeat.
 
Despite reports of massive voter turnout around the state Tuesday afternoon - the turnout was actually closer to 2010 levels when more than 2 million Wisconsinites voted and Republicans won big - rather than 2008 levels when closer to 3 million Wisconsinites elected President Obama and Democrats.
 
So what does all this mean? It means that things really are as bad as we think they are - and the Supreme Court really has handed over our democracy to the highest bidders - giant corporations, foreign governments, and the likes of the Koch brothers. Wisconsin gives us a glimpse into the election coming this November - and patriotic Americans have five months to figure out how to overcome these oligarchs - and undo the incredible damage the Roberts Court has done to democracy in the nation of its modern-era birth. Sherrod Brown and Bernie Sanders are fighting against the cancer in our democracy - Citizens United - and you can join their efforts at sherrodbrown.com and bernie.org, and movetoamend.org.
 
-Thom
 
(How would you overcome big money to save democracy? Tell us here.)

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