Money is Speech, and Now so is the Middle Finger

Money spent by corporations to influence elections is free speech, and now so is the use of the middle finger.

Buckley v. Valeo, a landmark campaign finance case heard at the Supreme Court, established that money is Speech and certain caps on political finance were unconstitutional. There are caps on contributions to political PACs and individuals. This case was heard in 1976.

Fourty three years later, the middle finger is now speech.

The court ruling regarding speech and the middle finger did not allow for free disrespect of officers or people. I personally do not espouse any disrespect of officers or others, as it is not in line with my religious beliefs. I do however find it humorous that campaign finance reform is so far off.

When corporations are allowed to contribute to favorable politicians, the threat of corruption is extant.

Justice White, a Supreme Court Judge who ruled on the case gave a compelling dissenting opinion on the ruling: "The act of giving money to political candidates, however, may have illegal or other undesirable consequences: it may be used to secure the express or tacit understanding that the giver will enjoy political favor if the candidate is elected. Both Congress and this Court's cases have recognized this as a mortal danger against which effective preventive and curative steps must be taken."

A super PAC is a political committee that can solicit and spend unlimited amounts of money. This is more dangerous than a million extended middle fingers.

Sources:

https://www-nytimes-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.nytimes.com/2019/03/18/us/middle-finger-protected-speech.amp.html?amp_js_v=a2&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQCCAE%3D#referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2019%2F03%2F18%2Fus%2Fmiddle-finger-protected-speech.html

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckley_v._Valeo

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