(Image via LA Times)

An op-ed in the LA Times reflects on Citizens United’s five year anniversary and its effect on law beyond campaign finance. The damage felt from the Supreme Court’s ruling on campaign finance is just the beginning, as corporations continue to accrue more and more rights of ‘we the people’.

Some highlights from the piece:

“The idea that ‘corporations are people’ has spread from campaign finance law into the sphere of religious liberty. And there is no reason to believe it will stop there.”

“The biggest long-term impact, however, is the powerful framing effect the decision has had on other areas of the law. With last year’s decision in Burwell vs. Hobby Lobby Stores, the idea that “corporations are people” has spread from campaign finance law into the sphere of religious liberty. And there is no reason to believe it will stop there.”

“If past experience holds true, the logic behind the Citizens United decision will become increasingly accepted, authoritative and influential. As the late Justice Benjamin Cardozo said, “The power of precedent … is the power of the beaten track.” If the Supreme Court continues to beat the Citizens United track, we can look forward to corporate “people” accruing more and more of the rights and privileges of “We the People.”

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