Forum Post: Corporations are NOT people... This is an errant judgment due to a Cruel Flaw in our Democracy

A Cruel Flaw in the Structure of Our Democracy

I used to think the bizarre rules and internal practices of the legislature where fostering stagnation, or the ridiculous faith some people place in a single man, the President; He is not a king who rules by fief, he is a public servant, the highest, but still only that.

WE THE PEOPLE make big things happen. ALL OF US, rich, poor, young, old -- ALL OF US.

Regardless of our governments perceived flaws in form, workings and our expectations, there is really nothing just plain wrong in the executive or legislative branches structurally. They simply require men and women who TRY to take meaningful action. They don't even need to bring a vision, except to listen and learn from their constituents, and then TRY the best they can to represent us, ALL OF US. Easier said than done, always changing in small ways to adapt/adjust, it's an ever changing, growing process. It's a democracy.

The only serious structural defect I see is with the Courts. We all grow old. We all know what that means, some remain agile and engaged in life into their 80's. How many people do you know who can do their finest work beyond that, or even up to that age? To ask a fellow citizen to labor until they die is just plain cruel, and that's what most do as they view stepping down like a failing somehow, giving up a sacred (if anything in our civil process is) trust. We ask too much.

WE THE PEOPLE ask too much of them.

1st Amendment (in entirety)

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances

Corporation are not people. I'm not sure how the court or anyone can confuse the all too clear meaning of the simple word 'people' with anything other than US Citizen.

The Supreme Court is wrong, and our structure provides no reasonable recourse, except to wait for them to fade and HOPE the new Justices will remedy this error.

Maybe when the time comes to replace them, WE THE PEOLE will demand a proper vetting. Looking not so much at opinions written, but how many times their decisions where overturned solely on the merit of the case presented to them(new facts and strategies DO change things--can't blame them for a good appeal that changes the ground.)

Our Judges are only human, and our laws are... well, I'll leave it at complex. I'll be sure to lobby my representatives to take this tact when vetting, vetting based on errors (hoping the number and magnitude of errors show a nice trend of going down over their carriers) and hope for the best.

Maybe we could even ask our retiring judges to hold a privileged position, one they more than earned from a life of service, to act not as judges but mentors and advisers to the Court. Freed of the burden, but THERE with the Court should they choose to remain, so their wisdom is not lost too soon.

It's a hope... just a thought that came after speaking with a neighbor, someone I disagree with about a lot of things or at least the few we discussed. Somehow, I feel I got schooled anyway. He made me think, not what he wanted me to, but think just the same. Have to thank him next time I see him.