Jim Hightower's Radio Lowdown

SCOTUS Is Meant to Be a Court, Not Our Supreme Ruler


Listen Later

What is a SCOTUS? Sounds like a prehistoric critter scuttling along some seabed. But, no, it is the acronym for our Supreme Court of the United States.

SCOTUS is meant to be the impartial arbiter of legal disputes over what our laws mean. Yet, who are these arbiters, how are they elected, why don’t we even know their names, and if they go rogue, imposing their personal autocratic beliefs on our nation’s democratic ideals… what then?

Well, structurally, SCOTUS is undemocratic, a relic of monarchial rule. Unlike the 535 members of the legislative branch, who are elected from diverse districts across America, there are only nine supremes, and none of the current bunch have ever faced the people, even in an election for dogcatcher. They are hand-picked by political and moneyed elites, and most blatantly lie to win approval for their lifetime appointments. Once enthroned, they have no accountability to us commoners, who are expected to blindly obey their edicts.

Today, out of 330 million Americans, six right-wing SCOTUS members have seized control of the court… and our government. They claim supremacy over the People, the President, and the Congress – arbitrarily dictating what is “legal” for elected officials and the public to do. Indeed, they are now making up laws on abortion, presidential power, voting rights, environmental protection, and much more to suit their personal political and religious biases. Moreover, they operate behind closed doors, with no disclosure of their conflicts of interest.

This is Jim Hightower saying… Call this what it is: A right-wing extremist power grab. And it is fast supplanting our people’s historic democratic progress with a kleptocracy of autocratic, plutocratic, theocratic rule. The only remedy is a head-on people’s rebellion to democratize this totally unAmerican court.

Do something!

We’re collaborating with friends to build out fresh actions you can take, and in the meantime, check these out:

* Share the Justice Can’t Wait updated website.

* Share Stand Up America’s Supreme Court Voter website, which aims to educate and mobilize voters on the impact the next president will have on the future of the U.S. Supreme Court.

* Join United for Democracy in calling on Congress to rein in the out-of-control Supreme Court.

* Demand Justice has been advocating for the Judiciary Act, which would expand the court by four seats. They’re asking people to call their representatives, and to join their rapid response team

Jim Hightower's Lowdown is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.



This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jimhightower.substack.com/subscribe
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Jim Hightower's Radio LowdownBy Jim Hightower

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

336 ratings


More shows like Jim Hightower's Radio Lowdown

View all
Fresh Air by NPR

Fresh Air

38,475 Listeners

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! by NPR

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

38,866 Listeners

Democracy Now! Audio by Democracy Now!

Democracy Now! Audio

5,744 Listeners

Le Show by Harry Shearer

Le Show

934 Listeners

CounterSpin by Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting

CounterSpin

509 Listeners

Ralph Nader Radio Hour by Ralph Nader

Ralph Nader Radio Hour

1,191 Listeners

The Bill Press Pod by BP Pods

The Bill Press Pod

618 Listeners

Stay Tuned with Preet by Preet Bharara

Stay Tuned with Preet

32,324 Listeners

The Hartmann Report by Thom Hartmann

The Hartmann Report

1,367 Listeners

The Al Franken Podcast by The Al Franken Podcast

The Al Franken Podcast

8,584 Listeners

The MeidasTouch Podcast by MeidasTouch Network

The MeidasTouch Podcast

50,247 Listeners

The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

The Ezra Klein Show

15,892 Listeners

The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart by Comedy Central

The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart

10,746 Listeners

The Coffee Klatch with Robert Reich by Robert Reich

The Coffee Klatch with Robert Reich

239 Listeners

Good News for Lefties | Daily News for Democracy by Two Squared Media Productions, LLC

Good News for Lefties | Daily News for Democracy

406 Listeners