Time to Rescue "One Person, One Vote" from Political PACS

Judith Polson

Fourteen years ago, the US Supreme Court issued a 5–4 decision in favor of Citizens United, the decision that struck down restrictions on expenditures from corporations in the political process. 

One person determined this far-reaching, democracy-destroying decision. Brennan Center for Justice: “The decision for Citizens United unleashed unlimited spending in our elections without disclosing the sources of their funding.  Our government is now run by billionaires. The individual’s vote is stolen by big money. This has negated our one person, one vote system.”

Corporations are not voters but the Supreme Court's ruling in Citizens United makes large groups have huge influence on policy. This allows outside groups [PACS] to accept unlimited political donations. In my opinion this has ruined our democracy.  It has taken power away from the people and put it in the hands of money and money only.  Big money controls us and it can come from almost anywhere and does.   

Money from entities that support Israel such as AIPAC have financed nearly everyone’s election campaigns and their “war chests” are built up yearly if they support Israel.  Those that have not taken money from AIPAC take money from far right conservative groups or the NRA or from other harmful big money groups.  We have lost our democracy.   

We can take our government back by making elections publicly funded only and abolishing PACS.  A politician should receive money from no entity but the people.  Not from self-interested groups with millions of dollars to influence our government.   

This puts the extremely wealthy in charge and this is not democracy.  Money should not rule us and we must put a stop to it.  I am for restricting money for politicians to their salaries only, no perks, and a disallowing of politicians to use any money even their own to run for office except what is publicly funded. 

Our Constitution has been amended over time and this is an important amendment that we must add.  Elect only people who will support such an amendment and let’s get back our government.

Judith Polson is a retired educator who ran for South Carolina Senate District 3.