Chris Hedges, a senior fellow at the Nation Institute, and Jonathan Haidt, a psychology professor at the University of Virginia, had an interesting discussion on capitalism at 92Y on June 19th, 2012. In looking at corporations and capitalism, the duo examined the repeal of Glass-Steagall, the 2008 financial collapse and the Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling.
Has a “corporate coup d’état” taken place? Watch the conversation to find out.
Newt Gingrich On Citizens United: It Will Help Middle-Class Candidates
Today is the two-year anniversary of the controversial Citizens United ruling and demonstrators are planning protests at courthouses across the country. Occupy the Courts demonstrations, as they’re being called, are spearheaded by Move to Amend, who wrote on their website: “The Supreme Court is misguided in principle, and wrong on the law.”
In light of this, we wanted to return to Newt Gingrich’s comments on the issue at 92nd Street Y, when he was here for In The News with Jeff Greenfield in 2010. In response to question about Citizens United, Newt explained: “I believe we need to recognize that the effect of virtually all efforts to limit political speech…have crippled middle-class candidates, helped the very rich, and helped big institutions.’ He continued, “I think you’d have a much healthier and freer system if you said any American can give any amount of after-tax income, as long a they report it every night on the internet so everybody else can determine who’s supporting who.” His answer drew applause from many in the audience, but moderator Jeff Greenfield pressed him further. Watch the video.
Next up for In The News with Jeff Greenfield is Nancy Pelosi on April 1.
