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Even assuming that all that Reich says is true (though I think that there is more collusion among companies than real compe ion), the SCOTUS has said that it is legal. So, it is not about to stop.
Robert Reich: Businesses should be worried about the hundreds of millions of secret dollars now going into political campaigns.
It's one thing when you know what your compe ors are doing politically because they have to disclose it. You can then neutralize their donations by at least matching them, or doing them one better.
But when you don't know what they're up to, you're in trouble.
What if your compe ors' money gets some judges elected? You could end up more vulnerable to an rust claims from a compe or, or lawsuits alleging patent infringement, or charges you interfered in a contractual relationship.
What if your compe ors get a governor elected? You could lose a state contract that's quietly transferred to one of them, or lose out to them on battles over eminent domain or rights to air or water, or on the benefits of where a new highway's to be constructed.
It could be even worse if your compe ors get members of Congress elected. They could end up with tax breaks that are far more valuable to them than to you. Or subsidies or earmarks that improve their compe ive position at your expense.
Of course, political secrecy puts your compe ors in the same boat. They don't know who you're supporting or by how much, so they have no way to counter what you're doing politically.
The result is you and they have to spend even more.
This is exactly what the lobbyists, political operatives, and media buyers behind the secrecy want. It gives them more power to extort your company's money by saying, in effect, if you don't pay up, you'll be at a compe ive disadvantage.
In other words, secret corporate donations are not only bad for democracy, they're bad for business. They only intensify the compe ive arms race in corporate political donations that's been escalating for years.
It's a zero-sum game that helps no one -- not you, not your compe ors, not even politicians, who just have to raise even more money. The only winners are the intermediaries, who make out like bandits.
Ryssdal: Robert Reich was Secretary of Labor for President Clinton. His new book is called "Aftershock: The Next Economy and America's Future."
http://marketplace.publicradio.org/d...ret-donations/
Even assuming that all that Reich says is true (though I think that there is more collusion among companies than real compe ion), the SCOTUS has said that it is legal. So, it is not about to stop.
And if, ATTN: WILD FANTASY ALERT, Congress passes legislation that goes back to stare decisis that corporations are not persons and makes all their contributions highly regulated and open, SCOTUS will knock that legislation down since they said Corporate-Americans' are persons and their speech is protected under the 1st Amendment.
The Repugs and conservatives multi-decade strategy of stuffing all levels of the judiciary with extreme right-wing activists is just another way they are ing up the country and gaming the system in favor of the corps and wealthy, a way that will take decades to reverse, if ever.
Subtle variations in law can have pronounced effects on businesses.
Consider for example:
One large soda company uses corn syrup in its beverage, another uses pure cane sugar, generally imported.
Same industry, but if the subject is corn subsidies or import duties, both are HIGHLY motivated to campaign against someone who has a definite opinion on either. The corn syrup company would be happy with high import duties on sugar, and unhappy about cuts in government subsidies. Their compe or would be just the opposite.
Legal for now. Although I doubt that the "business friendly" GOP controlled congress has any intention whatsoever of cutting off the largesse they are the primary benefactor of.
"Although I doubt that the "business friendly" GOP controlled congress has any intention whatsoever of cutting off the largesse they are the primary benefactor of."
You're REALLY going on out on a limb there.
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