Fighting City Hall – And Winning

I have to say that I’m impressed with the work being done to pass a constitutional amendment that would effectively overturn Citizens United, and restore some semblance of meaning to our democracy here in the U.S.  Most people would shake their heads and conclude that such a change in the law couldn’t happen—especially not in this poisonous political environment. Yet the common American has started to become aware of how completely wrong it is that corporations can spend as much money as they want to influence our elections, and has begun to create an enormous swell of outrage that is steadily converting into real power and action.

Yesterday, the California State Senate passed a resolution with a vote of 23 to 11, which calls upon Congress to amend the U.S. Constitution and eliminate the notion that corporate money equals First-Amendment-protected speech. Though we’re just the second state to pass such a measure (Vermont was the first), others are lining up behind us, and are bound to do the same.

I recall what a friend wrote to me in my high school yearbook when we graduated in 1973 (the height of the Watergate fracas). He told me, “Don’t waste this summer playing golf, Craig! Those who pay attention to the proceedings here will experience something unique in the whole of U.S. history.”

I feel the same about Citizens United, and what’s going on here in 2014. If the decision can be overturned, we have an opportunity to restore some sort of significance to the concept of government by the people; if it stays on as a part of our institution, the concept of a republic (“res publica,” or “thing of the people”) will have effectively disappeared, and we will slide ever faster into oligarchy.

But, amazingly, the good guys might win one here; we’re certainly headed in that direction.

My hat’s off to all the people working so tirelessly in this vein.  If you want to join them, you may want to check out MoveToAmend.org.