The random political thoughts thread (Part Deux)

[Ghoulish Delight]

I'm with Alex. Haven't seen details, but from what I've been hearing from the people who are happy about this decision, I disagree that it's a free speech issue. The Constitution protects individuals, not collective entities. Is the fact that corporations and unions don't have a vote in elections restricting their constitutional rights? I doubt anyone would say so, but restricting their speech is?

No law prevents individuals that are part of the entities from exercising their right to free speech. If the CEO of Enron wants to spend their money to run ads for a write in campaign for Cheney in 2012, they are free too and rightly should not be restricted. But I do not believe the same rights extend beyond the individual to collective entities like unions and corporations. Totally different ball of wax.

But either way, I look forward to the outcries from conservative Republicans about this sweeping, irresponsible abuse of power by a bunch of activist judges.