Smyth: Let’s get big money out of politics

Over 75% of us see big money in politics as a huge problem, but most of us feel powerless to change it. But we can change it.”

Joe Smyth is a freelance columnist and the author of “Fixing America’s Broken Politics: Common Sense Solutions to the Issues That Divide Us.”

Americans may disagree on a lot of things, but most of us agree about one: Money has far too much influence in our politics. Billionaires and special interests are drowning out the voices of ordinary citizens.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Our Founders wanted us to have a government of the people. Congress, states and local governments could set reasonable limits on how much could be spent to influence elections.

But, in 2010, the Supreme Court — through its Citizens United decision — opened the floodgates. The ruling allowed corporations, unions and anonymous political action committees to spend unlimited amounts to influence elections. In effect, it silenced the people and put our democracy up for sale to the highest bidder.

Since then, super PACs and “dark-money” groups have bombarded us with attack ads — funded by sources often hidden from public view.

But corporations aren’t people. And elected officials should answer to voters, not just wealthy donors.

Today, billionaires can (and do) spend millions — even hundreds of millions — to buy elections and politicians, often without the public knowing where the money comes from. It’s outrageous. It’s un-American.

Over 75% of us see big money in politics as a huge problem, but most of us feel powerless to change it.

But we can change it.

The Founders gave us the power to amend the U.S. Constitution. It isn’t easy because constitutional amendments require a two-thirds vote in Congress and ratification by three-quarters of the states. But it’s been done 27 times, and it’s happening again now.

Thanks to a grassroots nonpartisan movement called American Promise, Utah recently became the 23rd state to urge Congress to propose an amendment to the Constitution to restore our power to regulate election spending. Campaigns are also underway in the other states.

The proposed American Promise amendment is plain and simple:

• Section 1 — We, the people, have compelling sovereign interests in the freedom of speech, representative self-government, federalism, the integrity of the electoral process and the political equality of natural persons.
• Section 2 — Nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to forbid Congress or the states, within their respective jurisdictions, from reasonably regulating and limiting contributions and spending in campaigns, elections or ballot measures.
• Section 3 — Congress and the states shall have the power to implement and enforce this article by appropriate legislation and may distinguish between natural persons and artificial entities, including by prohibiting artificial entities from raising and spending money in campaigns, elections or ballot measures.

To join the cause, visit americanpromise.net. Check out the FAQs and click on your state on the interactive map to find out how you can get involved.

We — the people — can make this happen.

Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.