Campaign Finance Reform

Well it has been awhile. I believe that I now have a bit more free time so enjoy new posts on how to make a more democratic America. 

2010, in a 5-4 partisan decision the Supreme Court rules the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 unconstitutional in the infamous case, Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission. Instantly, all corporations could donate to political campaigns without a limit. As every politician needs lots of money to fund their campaigns, many decided to incentivize the extremely wealthy corporations to donate them. Politicians did and unfortunately currently do this, by representing the interests of corporations and not the interests of the people or of the common man. This 2010 decision, forever known simply as Citizens United, has relegated the power of the people in our democracy. No longer are the interests of the majority being represented in Congress, corporations and the wealthy have become the only things that hold our politicians accountable. This has debatably ended American democracy, and has replaced it with an oligarchy. Even though the people can vote, the wealthy and the corporations are who drive the platform of our political candidate without any spot for a voice of the people. It is extremely obvious, the voices of the few being represented instead of the interests of the many is inherently undemocratic. The Citizens United ruling must be reversed to let the voices of the people be heard and to resume our American democracy in a higher form.

My Plan:

Step 1: The Supreme Court reverses the Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission decision. The Supreme Court is the only body that can restore the interests of the many without an amendment to the constitution. If the court simply reverses their previous ruling, the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 will become part of the law again and there will be significant limits on the amount of money that the wealthy and corporations can donate to political campaigns.

OR

Step 2: Amend the constitution to limit the amount of money that corporations can donate to political campaigns and political action committees. This constitutional amendment would essentially restore the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 and the other laws struck down in the Citizens United decision. Given the Roberts' court's multiple decisions striking down laws that put limits on political campaign spending, I doubt that the Supreme Court will reverse their Citizens United decision. A constitutional amendment is therefore the only way to reverse the disastrous effects of Citizens United.

Getting the inappropriate influence of the wealthy and of corporations out of politics has an extremely easy solution. However it is up to the integrity of the Supreme Court or of Congress and the state legislatures to give the political power in the United States back to the people. 

If you have any idea to make a more democratic America, please comment below! I want to hear your opinions. Also, a revised version of Congressional Reform for the House of Representatives is coming. I have found a better way to eliminate the evil influence of gerrymandering.