Here is a quiz.  No awards for getting it right, but it is one single question you need to know the correct answer to:

“What is the single most dangerous thing facing American democracy today?”  (Waiting as the Syncopated Clock theme from Jeopardy plays in the background)

Time's up.  Turn over your cards.

You on the left – answer “Right wing lunatics bringing guns to public rallies.”

Sorry, wrong answer.

Right – you on the right, you answered “Creeping socialism”

Sorry, wrong again.

Centrists?  “Global warming.”

Nyet.  Oh sorry, that seems like a throwaway to those on the right.  At least I didn’t answer “nein” and get the jackboot wackos all worked up.

Audience members – those of you who can be heard against the background noise of birthers, 9-11 truthers, grassy knollers (ok, I’m with you there) and alien abductees, please don’t shout.  Don Pardo will walk the audience with a microphone.

The answer to “the most dangerous thing” question?  Fascism.  Not Islamo-fascism (whateverthefuck that is)  Real live fascism.  Coming to a government near you! 

“When” you ask timidly?

As soon as the Supreme Court, lead by one of the leading corporate attorneys in the country, John Roberts, rules on Citizens United vs Federal Election Commission.     For those of you less inclined to read the deeper materials, here is the Wiki for the case.  

“Aw, come on, this cant be as important as stomping out the Taliban, can it?”  

Yes, I am afraid it can.  And it is.

“Why?  How come?”

Because your vote will mean nothing (which, incidentally, is less than it means today), and your voice will be drown out.  I am talking about your First Amendment voice.  Fascism as described on the Library of economics and Liberty site  is “socialism with a capitalist veneer.”  Or perhaps you prefer the Wiki definition “Fascism comprises a radical and authoritarian nationalist political ideology and a corporatist economic ideology.”

In a nutshell, the Roberts Court has asked to review issues that have been settled precedent for some time now regarding corporate money in politics.  The case revolves around a film made by a conservative group titled “Hillary: The Movie” which was an attempt to denigrate then Senator Clinton and influence the upcoming presidential elections, back when she was the expected nominee.  The reason this is the most dangerous issue in America today is that you cannot find a single case where Roberts has ever ruled in favor of an individual against a corporation.  And with a 5-4 conservative majority (I am sorry, Conservatives, to have to co-opt your name to be used with the far right fascists, but it is up to you to reclaim it) there is no real mystery where this one will come out.

Rather than rewrite the whole case, I’ve tried to provide a few links to help you understand this for yourself.  Watching how much corporate money has flooded into the health care debate, and the effect it has had, I don’t think you can make a credible argument that corporations have an “equivalent level” of free speech as individuals.  Corporate money in the political arena is corrosive.  And if the health care debate doesn’t convince you of this, just wait until you see the energy lobby gear up for the next round of ads to defeat any meaningful alternative energy and global warming policies.

 “A fascist is one whose lust for money or power is combined with such an intensity of intolerance toward those of other races, parties, classes, religions, cultures, regions or nations as to make him ruthless in his use of deceit or violence to attain his ends.”
Henry A Wallace, VP to FDR in 1944.