On January 23, the Reformer featured an editorial entitled “Selling out our democracy”, which opened with a quote from Justice Stevens, denouncing what is probably their worst decision since Dred Scott:
“While American democracy is imperfect, few outside the majority of this court would have thought its flaws included a dearth of corporate money in politics.”
The justices decided that Corporations are Persons with full rights of Free Speech including the right to unlimited corporate funding for the candidates and causes they favor at election time.
Stevens called the majority opinion a dangerous rejection of common sense that “threatens to undermine the integrity of elected institutions across the nation.”
Admittedly, American democracy is imperfect; with the current condition of politics in Washington, it will take a major upheaval to amend the Constitution to restore the fundamental rights of flesh and blood people.
Things here in Vermont haven’t degraded to the levels seen in Washington. But the role of money is firmly embedded in our elected institutions and the way we elect our leaders. Conventional wisdom tells us that the candidate who spends the most money usually wins.
How can we change this? We have to start doing things differently; we need to start thinking completely out of the box.
Call it coincidence, but something like that is happening, right here, right now,
From a letter to the editor appearing the same day as the aforementioned editorial: Peyton wants governor’s seat
“I am offering my service to Vermonters in the capacity of governor.”
She goes on to say: “I have complete faith in offering you a gubernatorial option that is entirely noncommercial, organic and which aims to restore as much power to the people and away from corporate control of politics.”
In the interest of full disclosure, I have to say that Emily Peyton is my friend, and that I admire what she’s trying to do: put power back in the hands of (flesh and blood) people where it belongs. I call it “walking” for governor, rather than “running”.
Emily has put forth some preliminary platform planks:
*** I want us to institute the Common Good Bank of Vermont.(where) we will have both the ability to create credit and decide where the profits are spent as a matter of depositors rights.
***I find particularly compelling the joyous challenge to become a pollution-free state. How can humans benefit the Earth’s environment instead of kill it?
***More public support for restorative justice and decriminalization of marijuana. Over the long term we want to move away from fear-based motivators, to begin to live harmoniously.
***I will not ask or need your money to get the word out, nor will I ask you to wear my name on your lapel or lawn or shake signs at you as you drive by, I respect your intelligence. If you want the change of pace, you can move it along by word of mouth and write in (your votes)
Watch this space for further developments.