[EL] psychology and the US Supreme Court Montana action

[Richard Winger]

An overwhelming amount of negative publicity about Citizens United during the last two years has been factually wrong.

I am not talking about commentary on this e-mail list at all.  I am talking about the many, many commentaries in left-leaning publications, media, blogs, that constantly said the US Supreme Court had said in Citizens United that corporations are persons.

And even the most sophisticated media constantly said that Citizens United had legalized "donations" from corporations to candidates.  Even the New York Times sometimes slipped up and said that.

I think any member of the US Supreme Court does care about public opinion.  But I also think that a member of the US Supreme Court who had voted in the majority in Citizens United was toughened in his resolve to stick with Citizens United, out of resentment that the decision had been so distorted by so many voices.

When one believes that public opinion is mistaken because the public has been given such a gargantuan load of misinformation, one's reaction is to steel oneself and resolve not to give in.  To give in would be to reward the voices that spread misinformation.

Richard Winger

415-922-9779

PO Box 470296, San Francisco Ca 94147
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