Earlier this week, when the SCOTUS handed down their decision reducing the restraints on corporate money in politics, it seemed to me to be absolutely the worst thing to happen to our country in a very, very long time. But just maybe there's a silver lining to the decision of the pro-business justices.

The idea that seems to be gathering steam on the internet of a Constitutional amendment to overturn the doctrine of corporate personhood is a good one, but why not just pass a law stating that a corporation is not a person, and defining it otherwise? A Constitutional amendment takes a long time to accomplish, and in the meantime there's a lot of damage that will be done by the decision, as the corporations insinuate themselves into our politics to an even greater degree than they have already.

What I'd like to see is for President Obama to write a very simple proposal for a bill stating that a corporation is not a person (and providing an alternate definition), and send it to the Congress with his strong suggestion that they pass it without amendment - no fiddling around and modifying it endlessly until it turns into something unrecognizable, as Congress is wont to do. And then Obama should get out there and explain the proposal to the American people (why it's so important, what it will accomplish), campaign for it, and call on all American citizens to contact their legislators in support of the bill.

Even the most diehard pro-business Republicans would be put on the spot by such a bill. If they voted against it, they'd reveal themselves for the corporate minions that they are. I don't think they could vote against it, because they'd lose the support of the American people. And if the bill is written very simply, dealing with just that one issue of corporate personhood, their opportunities for waffling and spin would be severely limited. It's so easy for the average person to understand that corporate personhood is an absurdity. Most citizens, from the most liberal progressives on the left to the most far rightwingers, libertarians and even the tea partiers, would be outraged at any legislator who voted to maintain corporate personhood. This is the way that Obama can show that he really meant all that he promised us about change.

It is very likely that should such a law be passed, the corporate powers that be would challenge it in court, and that's why we should also be pursuing the Constitutional amendment route at the same time. But this is an issue that just perfectly encapsulates all that the average American believes is wrong with their government right at this moment, and I believe that the approach that I suggest will bring that in clear focus as nothing else could. This is a proposal that could take the lesson of the MA Senate election and use it for progressive change.

I don't think there's any other issue that has such potential to unite us. The Supreme Court did us a favor! And the time is now to do something about it!