On a cold January day, in the shadows of downtown Oklahoma City, and intrepid group of citizens gathered at the Federal Courthouse on the anniversary of the Citizens United ruling by the Supreme Court to remind us all that a corporation is not a person and that money is not speech.



We walked to the site with a cameraman from Oklahoma's Fox News and learned that OK Fox is not owned by the national news group, but is an affiliate. That makes OK Fox OK!







Carpooling from Change Oklahoma headquarters, we were unsure how many people would rally in support of reversing the court's decision to allow corporations to contribute large funds to political candidates and were pleased to see a small group already there when we arrived. More were to come.











We sang a wonderfully raucous but pertinent little ditty to the tune of Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land," waved flags and held up signs. Cars and buses honked and waved and gave us encouragement and approval. The driver of one car pulled over to the curb so the occupants could visit with members of our group.



There were young folks who joined us from Norman, Occupy OKC participants, office workers who joined us at lunchtime, elderly folks, men, women, and a few four-legged friends.



Of the many partisan issues that divide us, the question of corporate power in swaying the results of elections is one that must be addressed by citizens of all political persuasions. This is an ideological issue that changes the way democracy is practiced in America. We received no negative response on the streets of Oklahoma City.









And, of course, we were not alone.



Though demonstrations of any kind create problems for them, and potential danger, the OKC police are courteous and alert. We broke no laws and were in no way harassed.



Our speaker was Councilman Ed Shadid, a very knowledgeable young man. He shared with us that a constitutional amendment would be long in coming and difficult to craft and suggested that there should be short term goals to protect citizens' rights as the courts and legislators tackle the legal question.

He gave several suggestions, but the ones I thought would be most reachable and agreeable to all citizens were to demand transparency and to require limitation. If corporations disclose their gifts, citizens have the information they need to consider sources and influence as they vote. If the corporations as persons are limited to the amount other persons cannot exceed in their donations, the ruling is defanged.

Granted, we all know that there are ways around everything and that the corporations are adept at navigating those twisted paths, but these two reasonable requirements would, at least, give citizens oversight.

And, yes, Po was there.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: LibraryKat,

There he is SOTSTER. Donald Edward Podunk Russell. That damned liberal you'd give your stones to be able to best in some way. Yep. There he is. Big as life and twice as wonderful. LOL

quote:

Originally posted by podunk:
There he is SOTSTER. Donald Edward Podunk Russell. That damned liberal you'd give your stones to be able to best in some way. Yep. There he is. Big as life and twice as wonderful. LOL

lolol

That is OUTSTANDING podunk!!!

LOL Absolutely.

LOL

Don't have to wonder about the Festus pic anymore. Good choice.

Well, now, Festus might not have been all that purty. But, can anyone say he was not a good man.

We is what we is.

I've been informed that I'm a "Goth", I hear they can be pretty mean...so I'm just gonna run with that.

What's a Goth?

quote:

Originally posted by podunk:
What's a Goth?

Who would consider YOU goth? We've known some goth kids and you ain't it!

Maybe next time you get info from someone you're arguing with, come to the suspected source. That was just an occasion where a poster(that we have identified) got thrown under the bus and information was modified and bastardized just to score some flame points against you.

I wasn't thinking of you or T when I posted that.

I finally read anonnany's "location" and put two and two together, ran a search, and found the vid she is referring to.

After the initial shock, I can't stop laughing. OMFGosh!!!!!!!! THAT has no room to talk about how ANYONE looks or what anyone else believes or thinks or ANYTHING else for that matter.

This forum had a festus, a supposed "Goth", and evidently a poster child for an insane assylum all this time.

Sheeze Louise....

Yep, I'm taking a long break, and try not to claw my eyes out...

quote:

Originally posted by Celtic Warrior:
I wasn't thinking of you or T when I posted that.

I finally read anonnany's "location" and put two and two together, ran a search, and found the vid she is referring to.

After the initial shock, I can't stop laughing. OMFGosh!!!!!!!! THAT has no room to talk about how ANYONE looks or what anyone else believes or thinks or ANYTHING else for that matter.

This forum had a festus, a supposed "Goth", and evidently a poster child for an insane assylum all this time.

Sheeze Louise....

Yep, I'm taking a long break, and try not to claw my eyes out...

The person that told me you "dressed kinda Goth" had more to say about Celtic's brag that she could infect other peep's computers with viruses & thought it was funny. That's not funny.

Lots of youtube videos, ain't there?

quote:

Originally posted by glitterbootygirl:


Lots of youtube videos, ain't there?

Yes, there are...and publicly accessed, where anyone can view and critique them.

They have been VERY revealing.

Usually I couldn't care less about what someone looks like - most Americans are not much in that department anyway, and myself being middle-aged, and who has had problems with my weight due to thyroid issues, would normally be the last person to point out anyone else's appearance.

But sad to say, you started this by posting digs on my weight, how I supposedly dressed, etc...and I feel most vidicated to see you have NO room to say anything about ANYONE else, EVER.