Well the French don't exactly have a right to free speech and given that the Supremes here have carried the concept of free speech to ridiculousness with their campaign $$ ruling, I would think that would not fly in the US. Though NY state tried to outlaw fuzz busters (radar detectors) at one point.

It goes deeper than that LucsAdvo.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Clara_County_v._Southern_Pacific_Railroad

That a passing remark in a headnote to a court decision changed the meaning of the outcome of the case is mind-boggling in it's reach. A court reporter, in trying to summarize the case, changes everything? And the Chief Justice didn't spot it and correct it?

I wish those people were still around to see the result of their un-handiwork!

Nonetheless, I agree that the campaign ruling went to far. But on the other side, now we have the opportunity, nay, the demand, that this error in 1886 be corrected and the powers that followed be corralled.

"concept of free speech to ridiculousness with their campaign $$ ruling, "

Not really.

1. As long as one player is completely immune from ALL spending rules, it is unfair to put rules on others. (which player? - read the 1st amendment)

2. As long as an entity is subject to law, that entity should have an ability to tell their side.

Thanks
JK

Though NY state tried to outlaw fuzz busters (radar detectors) at one point.

A couple have succeeded, last I heard radar detectors are illegal in Virginia and Washington, DC.

Thanks, Starbuck, for the link to a concise statement of how corporations gained the rights of citizens.

The story is more unbelievable with every rereading: a Court Reporter (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.C._Bancroft_Davis) and former president of the Newburgh and NY Railway -- long prior to his role as Court Reporter -- wrote a summary of a decision that did not include a constitutional determination. The justices had explicitly ruled solely on statutory matters involving taxes owed by a railroad.

It was the golden age of corporate power and railroads were in their ascendancy. Now, during yet another golden age of loosely regulated corporate power, ordinary citizens are burdened by a Court that would never consider redressing the patently fraudulent claim of corporate personhood. Indeed, this Court has granted corporations a right to speak as loudly and as often as their wealth permits.

Corporations do not simply employ election ads to influence the nature and quality of life in this country. NPR -- surprisingly -- has been providing some details of how thoroughly legislative processes in this country have been manipulated by corporations. Here's a link to an Upshot review:
http://yhoo.it/95vUet