11 Years Later and Citizens United Decision Is Still Causing Harm, But There Is Hope

 Eleven years ago the Supreme Court decided to allow corporations to spend as much money as they want to influence who gets elected. This ruling of Citizens United has allowed for the influx of massive media campaigns endorsing politicians who represent the best interests of wealthy corporations, not the common good. Our economy continues to serve the ultra-wealthy elite on the backs of the working poor. Our democracy is in shambles with a house, senate, and judiciary infiltrated with corporate-backed politicians who are stripping away the rights and protections the working class relies upon for survival. 

Only a couple of short weeks ago we saw proof positive what happens when corporate money is used to back politicians with a harmful agenda. Thirteen Senators, substantially backed by the Koch network, banded together and vowed to prevent the confirmation of President Joe Biden. Their actions helped spur violence at the Capitol building that would soon be decried by many on both sides of the aisle. 

It has been 11 years since Justice Kennedy misspoke when he stated in the majority opinion of the case that “The appearance of influence or access, furthermore, will not cause the electorate to lose faith in our democracy.” We have indeed lost faith. Our children are sick in Flint from poisoned water, our climate continues to plummet into crisis, we are mowed down with bullets from the guns legislatures refuse to regulate. Our right to bodily autonomy through reproductive healthcare is being stripped away, our names are being purged from voting rolls, our children are being pushed out of schools with the predation of charter schools that are disinterested in communities of color attending them. 

Citizens United proved that an ultra-wealthy few can absolutely manipulate our democracy for their private interests. Today, 11 years later, there is a bit of hope with the announcement of a bipartisan constitutional amendment that overturns Citizens United. U.S. Reps. Ted Deutch (D-Fla.), Jim McGovern (D-Mass.), Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) and John Katko (R-N.Y.) reintroduced The Democracy for All Amendment, a bipartisan constitutional amendment that affirms the right of states and the federal government to pass laws that regulate spending in elections.

While this is an admirable start if it passes, we must do more than repeal the Citizens United ruling. We must create a plan to restore the working class’s faith in our electorate through reparations. We need to fix the imbalance of power and allow for transparency to show who is controlling the system. Those who’ve been hit the hardest by corporations and billionaires’ interests --the working poor-- must be given reparations to make up for the historic and ongoing impact of stacked courts and a racist criminal justice system. Then, perhaps the people will begin to have their faith restored.