When Money Talks

The High Price of "Free" Speech and the Selling of Democracy

Derek Cressman (Author) | Thom Hartmann (Foreword by)

Publication date: 01/11/2016

When Money Talks
Special-interest money is destroying our democratic process. But now that the Citizens United decision has thrown out campaign spending limits as abridgments of free speech, Americans want to know what they can do about it. Derek Cressman gives us the tools, both intellectual and tactical, to fight back.

There's nothing inherently unconstitutional in limiting the amount of speech, Cressman insists. We do it all the time—for example, cities control when and where demonstrations can take place or how long people can speak at council meetings. Moreover, he argues that while you choose to patronize Fox News, MSNBC, the
New York Times, or the Wall Street Journal, political advertising is forced upon you. It's not really free speech at all—it's paid speech. It's not at all what the Founders had in mind when they wrote the First Amendment.

Cressman examines how courts have foiled attempts to limit campaign spending, details what a constitutional amendment limiting paid speech should say, and reveals an overlooked political tool concerned citizens can use to help gain the amendment's passage. Seven times before in our history we have approved constitutional amendments to overturn wrongheaded rulings by the Supreme Court—there's no reason we can't do it again.

Read more...

Formats
Paperback - $17.95 - Members: $16.16
Paperback - $17.95 - Members: $16.16
PDF eBook - $17.95 - Members: $12.57
ePub - $17.95 - Members: $12.57
Quantity

Find out more about our Bulk Buyer Program

  • 10-49: 20% discount
  • 50-99: 35% discount
  • 100-999: 38% discount
  • 1000-1999: 40% discount
  • 2000+ Contact ( [email protected] )
Orders of 10+ copies shipping to one address receive free ground shipping within the U.S. Shipping to separate individual addresses via USPS media mail will be applied a handling fee:
Book Details
Overview
Special-interest money is destroying our democratic process. But now that the Citizens United decision has thrown out campaign spending limits as abridgments of free speech, Americans want to know what they can do about it. Derek Cressman gives us the tools, both intellectual and tactical, to fight back.

There's nothing inherently unconstitutional in limiting the amount of speech, Cressman insists. We do it all the time—for example, cities control when and where demonstrations can take place or how long people can speak at council meetings. Moreover, he argues that while you choose to patronize Fox News, MSNBC, the
New York Times, or the Wall Street Journal, political advertising is forced upon you. It's not really free speech at all—it's paid speech. It's not at all what the Founders had in mind when they wrote the First Amendment.

Cressman examines how courts have foiled attempts to limit campaign spending, details what a constitutional amendment limiting paid speech should say, and reveals an overlooked political tool concerned citizens can use to help gain the amendment's passage. Seven times before in our history we have approved constitutional amendments to overturn wrongheaded rulings by the Supreme Court—there's no reason we can't do it again.
About the Authors
Endorsements
Table of Contents
Excerpt

We also recommend