Are We Turning Into an Oligarchy? (Our Fall From Democracy)

Of all the issues that have left me in shock in thestanding precedents are essentially selling out the
realm of U.S. politics over the last couple ofdemocracy to special interests. I don't care if you
months, nothing was worse than the decision thisare Republican or Democrat, Conservative or
past week by the Supreme Court. It overruledLiberal, this is outrageous. Maybe this is a test if
the long standing precedent of the limitations ofmovements such as the Tea Party are actual
corporations and unions giving to advertisementpopulist movements (which would be outraged by
to support political candidates. Essentially,this bill) or an extension of the Republican Party (in
corporations can give whatever they want towhich they will not be, because it will support their
political advertisement, because in some way theinterests).
conservative judges say this is their "freedom ofIf we continue down this path, I don't know what
speech". While they can skew it any way thatthe health of democracy will be in 20 years. The
they would like, this decision is disastrous to thegap between rich and poor will continue to
health of a democracy. The rich and powerful willskyrocket. The helpless and defenseless will be
gain even more and more control, and theleft without a voice. We will continue to decline in
common man will be left with nothing.education, and the actual physical health of the
Do you understand what this entails? Thenation will be at an abysmal level. I hope the
corruption that is already rampant in politics hascongress comes and finds a bill to replace this
essentially become legalized. We already knowoutrageous ruling, before our Republic simply
that congressman won't stand up to the banks,becomes a corrupt Oligarchy guised in the form
health insurance companies, oil companies, etc,of a democracy.
because of the benefits they receive from them.Edward Dolling made an interesting point, "The
However, now it just allows these groups eventwo greatest obstacles to democracy in the
more power in the government. A few yearsUnited States are, first, the widespread delusion
ago, Senator Feingold of Wisconsin and formeramong the poor that we have a democracy, and
Republican Candidate McCain understood thesecond, the chronic terror among the rich, lest we
danger of the stockholders, CEO's, and greedget it." (1941)
overcoming the voice of the people, so theyIt is time for the common man to stand up and
helped to restrict the power of these groups indeclare their individual voice; otherwise democracy
regards to political financing. However, these 5will be nothing but a façade for the rich and
judges who have voted this reversal of longpowerful to take more and more control.