If You Can ‘Speak’ with Your Money, Then Why Is It Illegal to Ask For It?

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/if-you-can-speak-your-money-then-why-asking-money-illegal




Money may be protected speech but apparently, speech that asks for money is not.

Two recent legal cases about money and free speech unveil a contradiction in our application of the First Amendment. One deals with the right of the rich to influence politics with a lot of money, the other deals with the right of the poor to ask for a little to buy a meal or bus ticket.

On October 8, the Supreme Court heard arguments in McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission (FEC) that could open the floodgates on unlimited campaign contributions. If McCutcheon succeeds, the case could lift limits on how much money an individual can spend in an election cycle.

If the Court sides with McCutcheon, it could strike down aggregate limits on campaign contributions in the name of free speech. Currently, the donation limit is $48,000 per cycle, which enables giving the maximum amount of money to 18 national candidates per election. Even if the FEC could still limit donations to a single campaign, rich donors would see a new rush of power, gaining influence in more elections. Every politician in the country would basically need to beg this small group to finance their next job interview with the American people.

[liberal N proud]

1. Because that is taking someone else's speech?

And the oligarchs don't like to be bothered by the speechless.

[Orrex]

2. Good point. And...

You can also be fired for talking about your speech or asking people about theirs.

Funny ol' world.

[shanemcg]

3. Yeah, not sure I understand that rationale

The government can't violate your rights, but an employer or private individual can do so at will. Too bad, so sad. That's how the cookie crumbles.

Allegedly.

[shanemcg]

4. Isn't it obvious?

Money is speech, ergo, if you have no money, you have no speech.

Now, if that bum FOUND $20, he would then have the power of speech and would be free to panhandle. At least until his $20 ran out.

See?