Help Overturn Citizens United: Rubberstamp Your Money
I don’t suppose this will have any effect on the Supreme Court’s “Bribery is protected by the First Amendment” ruling. But it should raise public awareness, which is a first step.
Ben Cohen — co-founder of Ben and Jerry’s — is working with Move To Amend to distribute rubber stamps to the public. He wants to encourage “thousands of people to buy rubber stamps and stamp any currency that comes into their possession.”
Each of these rubber stamps will have a slogan such as: “Money is not speech,” “Corporations are not people” and “Not to be used for bribing politicians.”
And yes, it IS legal to stamp a message onto a bill, as long as the bill is still legible.
I personally like this approach better than “Occupying” public places. You’re not confronting the police or alienating the public. And if enough bills are rubberstamped, this has the potential to reach a lot more people. Most people don’t follow the news very closely, other than the front page of the daily paper and the “top stories” on the evening news. But everybody handles paper money. This message might actually penetrate the public consciousness.
One can hope anyway.
Labels: “not to be used for bribing politicians”, Ben and Jerry’s, Ben Cohen, Move to Amend, rubberstamp money
posted by Tom Harper @ 1:57 PM
9 Comments:
This is a really good idea, I can buy into. I periodically put pen to money with pithy sayings to pass along. One thing we have been doing for years, when hubby and I stay in hotels, we leave the tip and let the housekeeping staff know on the envelopes we leave, that the tip came from democrats looking out for working people and thank them. You know, let them know there are actually people out there that honor their work for less than crap wages for the most part. This creative thinking is what makes us liberals and the republicans, well, they have Ted Nugent and Chuck Norris "creative" types. I don't think I need say more.
Great idea!
I'd like one of these stamps. Or 4 or 5 of them, so I could always have one handy.
This better not interfere with the Where's George? campaign or there will be hell to pay. You can bank on it.
yeah I prefer to see forced Union dues line the pockets of politicians because who need union dues when we have workers of corporations paying for their pensions and benefits.
Paper money? People actually still use paper money? I thought it was always "will that be debit or credit?".
Jess: You're right, we have creative thinking and they have Ted Nugent and Chuck Norris.
J: I think so too.
JR: I'd like a few of them too.
Randal: Nope, "Where's George" comes first.
Demeur: Yes, of course paper money. I keep mine hidden under the cotton gin behind the stage coach.
I like the idea for a short-term attention getter, something to make people stop and think, and talk about the issue. I'm very uncertain about how much action to overturn Citizens United it would generate.
"But everybody handles paper money."
You might be surprised.
A few years ago I read an interesting article about Bill Gates, one of the richest people on the planet. As I recall, the article writer met Gates for an interview at a fast food place and wound up buying the lunch. Gates rarely needs cash and so hadn't brought any with him while out and about. This wasn't the first time Gates had been out somewhere and realized he didn't have any money with him.
I read of a similar incident when Bill Clinton was campaigning for president. He went to pay for something to eat along the campaign trail and discovered he only had a small amount of change in his pocket. If I remember correctly, a Secret Service agent loaned him a few bucks.
A long time ago I read an article about the rich that included how many of them rarely have cash on them, or if they do, only 10 or 20, for tips and such. In many of the places they frequent, their purchases go on their tab or they pay with American Express.
SW: I agree, it's a good attention-getter. Beyond that, who knows.
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