Thanks to the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens v. Federal Election Commission this upcoming election is sure to bring us a record number of ads supporting either candidate for President. Brace yourself for an overwhelming barrage of mudslinging before this Novembers election. This is certain to make the advertising coffers full for the countries’ advertisers but it is sure to distort the peoples’ views on who should be elected. The danger is in the fact that we now have corporate interests in control more than ever in peoples’ mindsets. Not only are we told what to buy, how we should look and what we should laugh at we will now be instructed on how we should think, who we should trust and why it’s good for industry to rape the environment.

It is quite apropos that this comes in on the heels of the country wide anti-bullying campaign. What better way to prove our stance against bullying than to let the corporations battle it out for our loyalties and bully us through the media. Once again the court system has failed us. Instead of supporting the rights of the people the Supreme Court has openly declared war on the popular vote by opening the door for the Super PAC. Surely there is a better way to disseminate information to the people than through a barrage of mudslinging and distorted facts.To make matters worse, if possible, the majority of Super PAC contributors are actually wealthy individuals which further illustrates their underlying private interests. Shame on the Supreme Court for not standing up to the corporate bully.

Thus our ideal of “Government by the People, for the People” as stated so eloquently by Abraham Lincoln  has been desecrated. Perhaps our new slogan should be “Government for sale to the highest bidder” or “Corporations rule now step aside”. What promises will be made in order to garner large contributions? With the environment in peril can the country afford to relax instead of strengthen environmental regulation? Sure the oil sands project in Canada will create jobs but it will also cause deforestation rivaling that of the destruction of the rainforests. Will it lower oil prices? Not in the least. The oil prices are subject to the pricing of the commodities market much to the glee and profit of big oil.

We desperately need to elect individuals who will ignore corporate interests and do the right thing. The interests of the majority of people are to provide a better life for each other and for future generations. It is time to put “principles over profits” before it becomes too late.

“Absolute power corrupts absolutely” — Lord Acton in 1887

“A Conservative is a fellow who is standing athwart history yelling ‘Stop’!” — William F. Buckley

Get off the cell phone and Drive! — Jake Shween