I support the First Amendment
In writing today I find myself a bit torn. On the one side I believe that the way we treat corporations/unions/organizations as human entities is just wrong. On the other hand saying “money isn’t speech” is just wrong.
Money = Speech
I’m sorry to say this but the markers you just bought, the thin piece of wood, the glue, and the poster board all cost money. So if speech isn’t money then how can posters outside of a rally be speech? How can t-shirts be protected under free speech? Or tattoos? Money does equal speech.
Corporations pay taxes but cannot vote to change the laws that affect them. Unions pay no taxes but can still endorse candidates. So the workers can organize and fight the corporations but again the business’ cannot affect change? Unions, LLC’s, S-Corps, Sole Proprietorships, Churches and many other groups are just that – A collection of individuals. So why can’t that collection of people spend the money that that group earns legally on anything they want?
News Corp (NASDAQ: NWS) brings in on average 50 Billion dollars, thats FIFTY BILLION dollars. They have 152 sub-entities in NO TAX or LOW TAX areas. Yet they are allowed to produce and run which ever propaganda dribble that manages to spew out of FOX News’ broadcast. How is that not political speech? How come the FEC does not shut them down 30 days before an election? Because they are giving you “news”?
Locally headquartered LEE Enterprises (NYSE: LEE) owns 64 news papers in 23 states. They are allowed to produce and run any number of editorials, and endorsements that many folks will argue can sway an entire election. Yet GE cannot purchase a TV advertisement claiming that Barack Obama will be bad for business. Nor could Coca~Cola purchase a Quad City Times advertisement saying that John McCain will be the best president for sugary sodas. WHY NOT?
Next time you are hand making a sign while watching MSNBC and reading a copy of the Quad City Times remember to nod your hypocrite hat at the millions of business’ and organizations that now share the same liberties.
My name is Arron James Lorenz, and I’m an entrepreneur from Davenport, Iowa. I am an owner and operate for Reach Global Networks, DOTLettering.com, Tat2You.com, and Reel to Reel Drive-In. I am the property manager for the Lakside RV Park. I am also the technical director for the Quad City Candle Company, Quad City Window Cleaning, Precision Bend & Machine, and the Blue Grass Community Club. In 2009 I was elected to be the President of the Blue Grass Community Club. 
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