A year ago, we witnessed a brutal, destructive, violent attempt to stop the peaceful handover of power — a basic principle of democracy — which has thrust the U.S. into a battle to preserve our democratic republic.
The root of the problem is out-of-control political spending. This month marks the 12th anniversary of the 5-4 Supreme Court decision, Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which allowed unlimited campaign donations and equated money with free speech, ensuring that wealthy individuals and powerful corporations influence laws and policy decisions which affect all of us. This misguided ruling must be overturned; such unfair representation stifles honest debate of issues and finding real solutions; it inhibits qualified candidates who are concerned for the public good; and foments anger, frustration and division.
This representation of narrow interests who pay lobbyists and have tons of money to finance and elect politicians means many of us have no voice. Also, the drivers of economic growth — innovation and competition — are spoiled when the wealthiest donors spend more to buy influence.
This is why climate-ravaging fossil fuel industries continue to set energy policy while receiving government subsidies, and pharmaceutical industries won’t negotiate prices, and why we spend more on military industries than any other nation while we grant major tax cuts to the rich, face problems like climate crises, homelessness, inadequate health care and education, and even hunger.
If you want to see meaningful progress, you must do something before the next election. Urge your senators to speak out passionately in favor of the Voting Rights Act and against anti-democratic actions which perpetuate the “big lie.” Join a group or a political party; speak up to defend the democratic ideal that we all should be represented, not only the rich and powerful.
Jeanette Robinson
Wilmington
