General Discussion

summer_in_TX

(4,390 posts)

55. Our democracy has not been healthy longer than Citizens United.

Mon Jul 6, 2026, 12:17 AM

11 hrs ago

I'd peg it with several events during the Reagan administration. The end of the Fairness Doctrine. The rise of Grover Norquist, the No New Taxes pledge, the rise of the Heritage Foundation and the influence of the likes of Richard Mellon Scaife and Joseph Coors.

The rise of Rush, then of the calculated campaign to create distrust in mainstream media by Fox and to frame themselves as "fair and balanced." Newt.

The hollowing out of our democracy was quite noticeable by the early 1990s.

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The system is broken because... [View all] kentuck Yesterday OP

Because of entrenched minority rule 31st Street Bridge Yesterday #1

1929 Permanent app... Whip-poor-will Yesterday #3

30,000 isn't the cap on district size DetroitLegalBeagle 23 hrs ago #33

I think it's gerrymandering and Republican voters that are part crazy, part unthinking "always vote Republican" muriel_volestrangler 23 hrs ago #26

Why should ethnic anything matter? If it's neutral Melon 11 hrs ago #54

Why the call to ignore everything ethnic? Torchlight 3 hrs ago #61

The system is broken because it has been bought indusurb Yesterday #2

Yes Timewas Yesterday #5

Our democracy has not been healthy longer than Citizens United. summer_in_TX 11 hrs ago #55

The Powell Memo of 1971 galvanized corporate involvement in politics, education and culture generally. Another Jackalope 6 hrs ago #59

I agree mainly Timewas 1 hr ago #63

In 1933, Justice Louis Brandeis said: "We can have democracy in this country or we can have great wealth sop Yesterday #6

Yes! THIS ☝️ EXACTLY! Hey Joe 23 hrs ago #25

Elections are already publicly funded Cirsium 23 hrs ago #30

No, but it will be much more likely and achievable should KPN 9 hrs ago #56

Congress is broken because the Republican Party is corrupt and broken. tanyev Yesterday #4

Congress, under Turtle's direction, destroyed the Supreme Court, making it into a politicized collection of unabashed... NNadir Yesterday #7

We don't need a new Constitution. intheflow Yesterday #16

I respectfully disagree. NNadir Yesterday #17

without the vague 2Nd Amendment, it still stands dave99 Yesterday #22

To contest this, I note we have an obviously insane, corrupt, ignorant, criminal, thug at the head of our Government... NNadir Yesterday #23

gun ? 2nd Amendment dave99 23 hrs ago #34

The 2nd Amendment is an Artifact Representing Why the Existing Constitution, Already Dead at the Hands of Roberts... NNadir 22 hrs ago #36

So your response is to throw it all away? intheflow 20 hrs ago #41

I gave my reasons for stating that for all of its successes, it's worn out, in another post. My son gave me a book... NNadir 19 hrs ago #42

Three branches not enough dpibel 11 hrs ago #53

He's not Superman thomski64 14 hrs ago #49

He is however, an incompetent, racist, senile, corrupt, uneducated, misogynist adjudicated rapist running a large... NNadir 7 hrs ago #58

Our system relies on public servants with competence, ethics, and allegiance to our Constitution Martin Eden Yesterday #8

i have been in the vein of the thread Tetrachloride Yesterday #9

No. Populists (psuedo-populist Trump/others) say the system is broken, rigged, terrible, and blame Democrats. betsuni Yesterday #10

Citizens United needs to be overturned. TBF Yesterday #11

need to burn a effigy of Roberts dave99 Yesterday #20

Did you mean overturn Dobbs? ShazzieB 22 hrs ago #37

Yes - I will fix that! ty TBF 22 hrs ago #38

I was on my first cup of coffee (!) - there is a lot more TBF 22 hrs ago #39

Separation of corporation and state I_UndergroundPanther 17 hrs ago #45

yes yes yes!! TBF 16 hrs ago #47

When half can't read at a 6th grade level and don't even know what America250 is for Ponietz Yesterday #12

Thank your local Republican dave99 Yesterday #19

Yes indeed and the moniss Yesterday #13

The system is broken because America pursued Manifest Destiny LuvLoogie Yesterday #14

It can be fixed and you highlighted to some degree how oldmanlynn Yesterday #15

FUCKUP THE REPUBLICANS dave99 Yesterday #18

I am with you I_UndergroundPanther 17 hrs ago #46

This is a little off the track but is true.. chouchou Yesterday #21

Republicans broke the SCOTUS confirmation process bucolic_frolic Yesterday #24

It's been Party Over Country for a while now. A parliamentary system might have been better for us as the U.S. grew in Exp 23 hrs ago #27

Congress is broken because of money dlk 23 hrs ago #28

That old saying MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL shines brigjhter today than it ever has. bluestarone 23 hrs ago #29

Overturn Citizens United - by Statute if not in the courts TBF 16 hrs ago #48

This may not be popular in these parts...but... -misanthroptimist 23 hrs ago #31

Yes, that was a great concern of many of the Founders... kentuck 23 hrs ago #32

Honestly, the Founders did a pretty good job... -misanthroptimist 23 hrs ago #35

Anacyclosis NT Warpy 22 hrs ago #40

Thank you. I needed a brain stimulant! erronis 14 hrs ago #50

I had started to explain myself Warpy 13 hrs ago #51

I'm almost on autopilot. If I don't know a word/phrase I'll look it up (usually WIkipedia) erronis 13 hrs ago #52

The Founders built the system to create wins through compromise, not domination 31j20b3 19 hrs ago #43

The Founders didn't expect a Chernobyl reaction kairos12 19 hrs ago #44

It's broken because... BurnDoubt 8 hrs ago #57

The system is broken, but it is not the system you may think. OldBaldy1701E 3 hrs ago #60

The republican party has become totally corrupt and traitorous Mysterian 2 hrs ago #62