To the Editor,
The 2010 U.S. Supreme Court 5 to 4 ruling in the Citizens United case that declared unconstitutional the government restriction on “independent” political spending by artificial entities such as corporations and unions made null and void the 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, also known as the McCain-Feingold Act.
As predicted by numerous knowledgeable politicians, including President Barack Obama, who said at the time that the decision “gives the special interests and their lobbyists even more power in Washington—while undermining the influence of average Americans who make small contributions to support their preferred candidates”. Those predictions have come true.
Historian and educator Heather Cox Richardson, in her October 18, 2024, Letters From an American podcast noted: “The McConnell-aligned Senate Leadership Fund has, so far, spent more than $140 million in this year’s Senate races, with more than $136 million going to attack ads. In the four races that are most vulnerable for Democrats—Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin—that money is bolstering extremely wealthy Republican challengers.” Also, one of the richest men in the world, Elon Musk, this week pledged to give $1 million a day to certain swing state voters who sign a pledge.
She goes on to state that self-funding of election campaigns by Republican candidates in the above-noted swing-states echoes the late 19th century which led “in 1913 to the 17th Amendment to The Constitution which established that the power to elect senators must rest in the hands of voters”.
Today, wealthy individuals and SuperPacs increasingly reduce the power of average American voters. It is time to once again amend the Constitution to re-introduce campaign finance controls. Passage of Congress’s We the People Amendment (HJR-54) is one way this can be done. Encourage our elected pollical leaders to make this happen.
Jack Dean, Mattapoisett
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