Conservatives and progressives alike can agree on one thing -- having a "democracy" that is owned and controlled by multinational corporations, just isn't right. But two weeks ago, the Supreme Court reneged on its duty to protect the founding principles of democracy by lifting restrictions on campaign financing. Now even a foreign corporation can decide to stash huge amounts of money in the PAC coffers of specific candidates -- even in state and local elections -- making them little more than indentured servants to the wealthy corporate powers that be.

 

It's a tragic move that no doubt will be fought both legally and politically, but the damage it will do on this year's election may live on for decades, especially when it comes to the mustering (or lack thereof) of sufficient political will to create a climate bill that ensures the safety of our planet for future generations.

 

Things are feeling rather hopeless, and one thing that I have found is that when things get hopeless you can always count on liberals to resort to their favorite defense mechanism -- sarcasm. Entirely unproductive yet slightly satisfying, this video by Greenpeace and the accompanying campaign site PolluterHarmony.com does a great job of making a point that is all too painfully obvious.

 

Gone are the days when true senatorial heros like McCain and Feingold could hold hands across the aisle in an effort to thwart the corporate takeover of the most influential democracy on earth. Most of our elected leaders now in 2010 have sold out because they HAVE to. They don't have a choice in the matter because the game is on and the race for campaign funding is already well underway.

 

Whether they like it or not, whether they have principles or not, it doesn't really matter. They need money to beat their opponents in an ever-escalating battle for campaign marketing supremacy. The more dollars, the more ads. In the end, the pursuit of money trumps the pursuit of law-making on behalf of the American people. 

  

Here's the thing.. everybody already knows it. According to Lawrence Lessig, professor of law at Stanford University and head of the campaign reform organization Change Congress, 88% of the U.S. population believes that money buys votes in Congress.

 

It's not that I don't appreciate a little cynical humor. I just think given the massive moral crisis Capitol Hill faces, we need to be a little more direct and straightforward about our anger.