Letter to NH Papers 2-10

The Bush/Cheney administration controlled Washington for eight years, during which time they were able to strategically move people into positions of power, allowing their hand to remain in place for years beyond the end of their term in 2008. We saw undeniable evidence of this with last week’s Supreme Court reversal of century-old law in the ruling of Citizens United v. Federal Elections Committee. In a 5-4 majority, the Court decided that there would no longer be regulation of financial contribution from corporations and special interests to support (or defeat) a political campaign by use of media.
Though this story went largely unnoticed, make no mistake, this ruling marks the biggest change to campaign financing in the history of this country and it also strikes at the core of our democracy. We’ve already seen millions of corporate dollars poured into negative advertising to protect business income (health care industry), and we know well, the path of big business corruption around the world. Now we will provide Constitutional cover?!
Some would have us believe that this ruling fights censorship, that corporate influence in politics represents groups of citizens who might otherwise have little impact. This opinion is unbelievably twisted. It is because money has such power in our political system that our voices can go unheard. It is our own first amendment rights that are at stake! Not that of Exxon/Mobil or of such prejudice and proselytizing conglomerations as the Family Research Center.
This is a wake up call for citizens of this country. Put very well by David Kairys writing for Slate Magazine, ‘Corporations aren’t people and money isn’t speech.’ We cannot let this message go unheard. We should restrict corporate spending and lobbying in the political world. Contact your legislators by visiting www.gencourt.state.(your state initials).us and demand their support!