Shut Up and Feed the Poor
Last September, when the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case of Citizen’s United vs. the FEC, I wrote a blog (A New Era of Political Equity) articulating what I felt would be the ramifications for nonprofits should the court decide that corporations have First Amendment, free speech rights akin to those of the individual.
Yesterday’s decision, which “rejects limits of corporate spending on political campaigns” now insures that virtually everybody in America, along with corporations and unions, has the right to overtly advocate for, or against, a candidate or incumbent…except for America’s 1.4 million nonprofit organizations/businesses. We alone must remain silent.
Each of us must now consider this reality. In a year in which 36 states will elect new governor’s, and countless cities will elect mayors, we who feed the poor, shelter homeless vets, nurture the elderly, sustain the arts, protect the environment, care for the sick, educate children, etc…must sit on the sidelines and bear silent witness to a process that relies on our work, yet excludes our voice.
There’s a word for this….”wrong”.
And while I for one will work tirelessly to challenge this dynamic, none of us can, or should, loose sight of the fact that we do have power. There are 100 million people who work at, or volunteer with, any number of America’s dynamic nonprofit organizations. Our votes have currency.
We must recognize that we and we alone, are the ONLY force that can provide a counter-balance to powers that would emphasize dividends over citizens.
We must realize that this can ONLY be achieved when set aside historic, understandable, yet detrimental divisions, and finally and firmly stand together. Only from that vantage point will we be able to ask, and insure, that each candidate provides derailed plans for how they would use EVERY asset in the community to achieve their vision for a city, a state or our country.
It could take time, to be sure, to evolve from the cacophony of causes that now mutes our shared potential….but we don’t have the luxury of time. That is why I, for one, am ready to join my voice with yours, and yours, and yours and yours….and I am ready to do it today, so that, regardless of how much money one group spends in a campaign—the community we share will come first.
To that end, I ask you to join me…and all the others who have already signed up for the V3 Campaign, so that the Voice, Value and Votes of the nonprofit sector is heard–legally, and loud and clear–in every election.
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January 22nd, 2010 at 1:54 pm
Very erudite comments on this latesty justice travesty. No one has brought up the nonprofit aspect as far as I have seen Mr. Egger.
I’ll retweet throughout the day.
Regards,
Guy
January 22nd, 2010 at 2:59 pm
Thanks, Guy. I’m stunned by the deafening silence in the face of this decision and the role it allocates for nonprofits. We are the new face of Dread Scott. While I always try to temper my temper…this one begs for a stone, well thrown.
January 22nd, 2010 at 7:01 pm
Twitter Comment
As @v3campaign asks, what about #nonprofits? RT @dcck: DCCK founder @robertegger responds to campaign finance ruling: [link to post]
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January 22nd, 2010 at 7:31 pm
Twitter Comment
RT @robertegger: Blog on the Supreme Court ruling that corporations (and not #nonprofits) have free speech rights [link to post]
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January 22nd, 2010 at 7:32 pm
Twitter Comment
DCCK founder @robertegger responds to campaign finance ruling: [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
January 22nd, 2010 at 7:33 pm
Twitter Comment
This is a must read RT @robertegger: Blog on the Supreme Court ruling that corps (and not npos) have free speech rights [link to post]
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January 22nd, 2010 at 7:35 pm
Twitter Comment
Sad blog post for nonprofits: RT @robertegger: Supreme Court ruling that corps (and not nfps) have free speech rights [link to post]
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January 22nd, 2010 at 7:35 pm
Twitter Comment
RT @robertegger: A new blog on the Supreme Court ruling that corporations (and not #nonprofits) have free speech rights [link to post]
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January 22nd, 2010 at 7:36 pm
Twitter Comment
@RigaRefugee Our votes have currency. THAT is the only counter-balance that can tip the crazy scale. Here’s my take [link to post]
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January 22nd, 2010 at 7:37 pm
Twitter Comment
A new blog on the Supreme Court ruling that corporations (and not #nonprofits) have free speech rights [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
January 22nd, 2010 at 7:38 pm
Twitter Comment
RT@robertegger: A new blog on the Supreme Court ruling that corporations (and not #nonprofits) have free speech rights [link to post]
– Posted using Chat Catcher
January 22nd, 2010 at 9:55 pm
Twitter Comment
Shut Up and Feed the Poor [link to post] — @RobertEgger
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January 26th, 2010 at 5:44 pm
[...] Supreme Court decision & nonprofits… Teen pregnancies up [News, 1.26.10] ADVOCACY | Opinion: A New Era for Nonprofit Advocacy? (Chronicle, 1/26) – The recent Supreme Court decision about campaign financing applies to nonprofits, too…I think. That’s how the Chronicle article reads to me, but Robert Egger thinks nonprofits are still being muzzled. [...]
February 2nd, 2010 at 3:00 pm
Thanks for making this very important point. The Supreme Court’s decision is so disappointing on so many levels. I’d like to see a legal challenge on why nonprofits are excluded from the definition of corporation.
It would be a great pro bono project for a law firm out there.
February 2nd, 2010 at 11:23 pm
I’ve been working that angle since the Citizens case was heard in September. There have been a few attempts to force the issue, particularly in the final months of the 2008 Presidential race, when ministers linked up to politic from the pulpit. The problem appears that the IRS isn’t taking the bait—they simply want to avoid a test case.
I’ll keep you posted, Perla….so nice to heard from you. GREAT work at Great Nonprofits!!!
OH, and here’s a link to another op-ed on this topic, thanks to Jan at Blue Avocado….http://bit.ly/9UQNha