“Out of” vs. “From” OK, I’m pretty sure whoever is behind “UnitedToAmend.org” is against — not for — torrents of cash subverting the political process. Unfortunately, “get big money out of politics” also describes what corrupt politicians do. You might even say that’s their primary goal. Nobody asked me, but I might have tweaked the bumper sticker...Read More
Subsuming Ideological Conviction for Constituent Service (They Say) “If you can’t take their money, drink their whiskey, screw their women, and vote against “em anyway, you don’t belong in the Legislature.”** –Jesse Unruh, California politician in the 1950’s and 1960’s. [Editor’s Note: The views expressed here are solely those of Ross Kaplan, and do not...Read More
Everything’s For Sale! [Editor’s Note: The views expressed here are solely those of Ross Kaplan, and do not represent Edina Realty, Berkshire Hathaway, or any other entity referenced.] Growing up in the Twin Cities, I watched the Gophers play football at Memorial Stadium, the Twins play baseball at Metropolitan Stadium (and later the Humphrey Metrodome), and...Read More
2012 Presidential Campaign “President Obama’s campaign has $88 million in the bank. Mitt Romney’s campaign has $30 million in the bank. The Obama campaign plus the Democratic National Committee has $123.7 million in the bank. The Romney campaign plus the Republican National Committee has $185.9 million in the bank. And that advantage is increasing month...Read More
Proposed 29th Amendment Rocks are not people. Frogs are not people. Cars are not people. Asteroids are not people. It should hardly be necessary to state something so patently obvious, but here goes one more: Corporations are not people. Cititzens United Aftermath Ahh, but according to the U.S. Supreme Court, corporations are people — or...Read More
Corporate Campaign Contributions In Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, the Supreme Court decided that corporations could spend as much as they wished at any time, assuming there was no direct coordination with the candidate. In doing so, the court overturned its own precedents and refused to distinguish the free speech rights of corporations and...Read More
