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By a 5-4 vote the U.S. Supreme Court removed the statutory limitation on the total amount someone can contribute to candidates for federal offices in an election cycle. Downplaying the potential of the ruling to pollute the political process, Chief InJustice Roberts declared, hey, it still leaves intact the ceiling that someone can contribute to a single candidate.

Since cameras are barred from the Court’s proceedings, we’ll never know if he managed to maintain a straight face.

Ever since the Court’s decision in the 1984-ishly styled Citizens United case of four years ago, there is effectively no limit on individual contributions to political candidates.

The only “limit” to individual contributions is how big a number you can put on one check, not how many checks you can write.

When donors can xerox corporate clones of themselves ad infinitum, their only consideration is, “How many times do I want to contribute the legal maximum to Candidate X?  Bwah-ha-ha-ha-ha!”

Where is FDR when we need him?

Footnote

Just so you understand, here’s what I’m talking about.  Suppose the individual contribution limit to one campaign is $2,500.  John Dough can give $2,500 under his own name.  After Citizens United, he can now also give $2,500 from each of his incorporated businesses: Dough Enterprises, Dough Investments, Dough Real Estate, Dough Property Management, Dough Plaza Inc, Dough Farms, and on and on. The Roberts court has made a complete mockery of the “individual contribution limit.”

The net effect of the two decisions is that now the super-rich are free to make unlimited donations to an unlimited number of candidates.

Helmet? Check!
Cleats? Check!
Reality? Check!

The Chicago office of the National Labor Relations Board ruled that scholarship players on the Northwestern University football team are indeed employees of the university, and therefore the protections that apply to all other employees apply to them.

“Athletic scholarship.” It’s right up there on comedians’ lists of oxymorons, along with “jumbo shrimp,” and “religious education.”

It’s called an athletic scholarship to distinguish it from a true scholarship, i.e., the academic kind.

And although an academic scholarship may have some strings attached (maintain a certain minimum gradepoint, take a minimum class load, etc.), it’s basically a gift based on past performance.  In contrast, the so-called athletic scholarship is actually a contract, contingent upon future performance – the school will pay your way as long as you (1) maintain the charade of being a college student, and (2) earn your keep on the football field or basketball court.

Yes, that’s a contract, and I’ll prove it: imagine what would happen to a blue chip quarterback recruit who shows up on campus in early August and begins football practice, then when classes start a few weeks later he writes a letter to the football coach, saying, “Now that I’m in class, I’m going to have to devote all my time to my pre-med major and will be unable to continue practicing with the team. Thanks so much for the gift of a free college education!”

Union card? Check!