my take on politics and policy

I can’t really add anything to Dahlia Lithwick’s analysis of this year’s supreme court decisions. Its very damning, worrying and succinct. Well worth your time to read.

http://www.slate.com/id/2298330

“The greatest impact of the Wal-Martdecision isn’t the blow dealt to class-action suits. It’s the guidance it provides employers: Immunize yourself from claims of gender discrimination with a written policy that says “we don’t discriminate” and a system of decentralized decision-making. The decision doesn’t discourage future corporate discrimination. It just makes it harder to identify and prove it.”

Basically all you have to do to avoid discrimination lawsuits is have a policy saying “we dont discriminate” and the Supreme Court will take you at your word.

Scalia: “Of course they don’t discriminate! It says so right here in the employee handbook. Wal-Mart would never say one thing on paper and then do another in practice!” (not a real quote)

Sadly, the Wal-Mart case is only the beginning of the bad news. Also included are how corporations can legally lie to their customers (hint- all they have to do is make sure their wholly-owned corporate subsidiary actually does the lying) and how corporations can take away your civil rights by including a mandatory arbitration clause in every document you sign with them.