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The Citizens United decision of the Supreme Court was reported to state "Money is Speech. Stopping the Money is like stopping someone's speech."
In Algebraic terms $ = S where $ is Money and S is Speech.
$=S
If so, simple Algebra makes the following also valid
~$=~S where ~ is "not".
In other words, if $=S then ~$=~S.
or, where Money is Speech the poor are silenced.
Of course, that's not so. The proponents of Citizens United will be quick to point out that $ are just a sub-set of S. There are many kinds of S. There is political action, writing, blogging, etc. None of these require money.
Yet each of them are louder with money.
I disagree. I don't think that $ is a subset of S. I think its an exponential modifier. S($) to be exact.
People who donate to a politician are not making a statement. They want to enhance and broadcast a statement already being made. A stack of 20's is not a political agenda, but it can help create that agenda.
The result is that all the sit-ins and private individual free speech of an individual will still be overwhelmed and silenced by the $ exponent one rich person or organization can invest in countering your claims.
And nowhere does it say these claims have to be truthful.
On a lighter note, if we go back to $=S idea, and this is a country known for its free speech, the, FS=F$. I want my free speech/money. I expect the courts to give it to me.
Posts: 1941 | Registered: Feb 2003
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