Never before in the history of our democracy have so few with so much spent so greatly to influence the votes of so many.
—
Robert Reich (@RBReich) July 09, 2012The former U.S. Secretary of Labor and Berkeley’s current Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy is fed up with money playing a role in politics, gosh-darn it! And he’s taken to Twitter to express his righteous indignation:
CEOs have no right to spend shareholder money on politics without disclosing to whom it's going & giving shareholders a chance to opt out.—
Robert Reich (@RBReich) July 09, 2012
2012 will go down in history as the year we lost our democracy to big money. Will 2013 be the year we take it back?—
Robert Reich (@RBReich) July 09, 2012
America suffers, as MLK said, not from the "actions of the bad people but the appalling silence and indifference of the good people." Act.—
Robert Reich (@RBReich) July 09, 2012
Obviously, Robert, you’re still sore about Citizens United (just like your buddies Peter Fonda, Ben, and Jerry). Stomp that foot! Maybe AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka will join you in your tantrum; he, too, thinks money’s “dangerous to democracy.” ::cough::
Reich found some support among fellow waaaaaahmbulance passengers:
Fuck yeah! RT @RBReich: 2012 will go down in history as the year we lost our democracy to big money. Will 2013 be the year we take it back?—
Leah McElrath (@leahmcelrath) July 09, 2012
Word. RT@RBReich: Never before in the history of our democracy have so few with so much spent so greatly to influence the votes of so many.—
Simon Beauchemin (@Debeauche) July 09, 2012
@RBReich It will take a couple of Supreme Court appointments before we can say that. If Romney is elected, democracy dies for a generation.—
Bob Dobolina (@bobdobolina) July 09, 2012
One lefty was willing to acknowledge something Reich did not:
@RBReich I agree 100%, but this is what the GOP say about the union support Dems receive? How can we make your argument and counter theirs?—
Jerry P (@histino) July 09, 2012
Many conservatives echoed this point, countering Reich’s arguments by pointing out his hypocrisy when it comes to unions’ financial contributions.
@RBReich You would be referring to the heads of the labor unions, wouldn't you?—
Ted Frank (@Colonel_Ted) July 09, 2012
@RBReich Do Union Leaders have the same responsibilities as CEO's to disclose to its member's where dues are spent on politics?—
(@BadBeat) July 09, 2012
@RBReich The thing is, shareholders always have the chance to opt out. They can sell. How's that work for union members? Quit their jobs?—
Tom Truman (@TTrsquare) July 09, 2012
does that apply to unions as well? RT @RBReich: CEOs have no right to spend shareholder money on politics without disclosing to whom it's—
Headinjury Kid (@headinjurykid) July 09, 2012
"@RBReich: unions have no right to spend money on politics without disclosing to whom it's going & giving a chance to opt out."edited w/fac—
Tammy Ingram (@TammyIngram1) July 09, 2012
@RBReich Unions who take dues by force are exceped of course—
Bill Petersen (@WBPetersen) July 09, 2012
Reich isn’t really in a position to take up the mantle of Crusader for Political Justice.
@SooperMexican does @RBReich realize that both sides are bought and paid for by big money? More often than not by the same people?—
Adam Dorsch (@evilofindiff) July 09, 2012
@RBReich u want ppl to forget u & clinton hands in the mess we r in that Pres O cleaning up. U need to look in the mirror—
(@lovelyladypa) July 09, 2012
@SooperMexican translated @RBReich "our big $ $oros is going to be nearly matched for a change"—
J.P. Kalishek (@JPKalishek) July 09, 2012
@RBReich You would be referring to George Soros and other Democrat party moneybags, wouldn't you?—
Ted Frank (@Colonel_Ted) July 09, 2012
@RBReich Your crocodile tears come up short, where were your complaints last cycle?—
Sam Callaway (@clarkcali) July 09, 2012
Hopefully this November, Reich’s tears will be genuine:
@RBReich 2012 will actually be the year that the Tea Party will save the country from Obama and the communists (Democrats) in Congress.—
Ted Frank (@Colonel_Ted) July 09, 2012
