Here Come Da Judge

The Supreme Court: A group of lawyers imposing the will of their backers and their personal predilections on the rest of us. The views of the Supreme Court are always compatible with the elite who govern. If the ruling class deems it, so shall it be.

I'm not sure why citizens are concerned about Boy Bush appointing a judge to the SC. Is it fear of taking away "freedom of choice?" Is it fear of reversing affirmative action or not reversing it? Granting gay rights? Maintaining separation of church and state or setting Yahweh and Jesus up on CSPAN? Clobbering our civil rights? Never fear. These are push button election time issues, not issues the SC will change in any demonstrable way or in any way that will alter the life and times drastically for average Joe.

The Court (and their backers) don't really care if Lakeesha and Tiffany abort. Aren't awfully concerned whether it's Tyrone or Tyler who affirmatively get that job or college spot. The Court won't make life any better or worse for Bruce and Steve. And the God-fight is just a seasonal invocation for political distraction. These issues are the "prejudices of the people." As Abe Lincoln said "corporations have been enthroned...an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people...until wealth is aggregated in a few hands...and the Republic is destroyed.

The Court will consider cases that give them the appearance of rationality and above reproach with a ruling to please one side and then the other. Example: SC ruling against medical marijuana, pleases conservatives (who get their high on Oxycontin). SC ruling against the 10 Commandments displayed on government property, pleases liberals as maintaining separation of church and state. Though most of us don't care if marijuana is medically legal or not, nor do most of us care if Moses is standing on the courthouse lawn with a tablet on stealing, killing, and adultery. Such SC rulings make one side or the other feel they've "won" a point, and the Court appears to be working for we the people in all its wisdom, while performing no harm to corporate coffers. A win-win if you're more worried with toking and praying than corporate hegemony. If the SC had been more "liberal" in 2000 does anyone really think Bush v. Gore would have had a different ruling?

The SC has always been sympathetic to the elite and will always minimize progress if it threatens to challenge the distribution of wealth and power. The majority of America should have noticed by now that the SC has, for the most part, been another tool to stop any change in the nation's class system of wealth and power.

But what of SC civil rights decisions you ask. After the Civil War there were several Amendments passed giving freedom and political rights to Blacks but we know such laws were no more than paper and ink. In 1954 the SC declared public school segregation and the "separate but equal" doctrine unconstitutional. In 1955, after Rosa's inspired bus boycott, the Court decreed Montgomery's segregated bus system to be unconstitutional. Between 1960-1963 there were 20,000 people arrested for protesting and breaking segregation laws. From the end of the Civil War to the 1960s it took "we the people" and a great deal of rioting, marching, water hoses, dogs, civil disobedience, death, National Guard, and more paper and ink just for me to sit down and use the front door with half of my own family. Don't wait for the SC to lead the way to the promised land.

The SC will rule against those who would interfere with corporate rights. The recent "eminent domain" ruling, which states personal property seizure by the more powerful is okay because "local officials know how best to help cities." Sure they do, just look at the beauty, safety, and marvels of our cities, thanks to the helping hands of those officials. Regardless what the liberal/conservative makeup of the SC, the SC will always rules in favor of monied America (or leave loopholes large enough for corporate attorneys to get a Learjet through).

Some argue the recent eminent domain ruling will harm most those in the upper class, the "ownership" society. Not in my backyard. I've watched this confiscation scam going on for at least 3 years now here in the Heartland. It's targeting low income, working class, or slum areas. Often dilapidated homes that have been in the family for 3 or 4 or more generations. The city claims they're cleaning up these areas. They are. Bulldozing more homes than Ariel Sharon, often not compensating owners as property deeds have been "lost" through the years, or suddenly decades of back taxes are found on the books making payoff out of reach for the home owner. Using tactics such as condemning the homes and giving the owner 30 days to repair, knowing that on minimum wage, poor or no credit, renovation won't happen, and then the "officials" claim the property. With buyers waiting. I've seen city blocks razed and sitting empty recently through such process. Rumor is a "big company" wants the land for maybe a factory (jobs!). Thanks to officials who know what's best could we be heading back to the days of the "company town?" Another day older and deeper in debt, St. Peter don't call us 'cause we owe our soul to the company store. On the other hand, the company town might make US labor competitive in the "free" market.

In 1776 the colonies fought to rid themselves of British corporate exploitation. How quickly we forget, or maybe it's how often we're told it was something about tea and taxes and "freedom." Corporate rule has been claiming Bill of Rights protection for more than 100 years, thanks to the Supreme Court. So, whether Bush appoints liberal or conservative SC judge, it really doesn't matter. The Court, along with the other government branches, are not serving we the people; we the people have never gained anything without a bloody fight. The SC can tell our President and Congress if their actions are unconstitutional, but they don't seem to do much of that, and when they do it's not detrimental to the P&L sheet. The Court will not defend us from the abuses of power. The Court jesters, liberal, moderate, or conservative, will preserve and protect the corporate ruling elite from the people, not vice-versa. That is their supreme function.