Dear Editor,
On
Tuesday, March 11, Rindge voters have an opportunity to voice
their opposition to the US Supreme Court's landmark “Citizens United”
decision that corporations are people and their campaign contributions
constitute free speech. I urge Rindge voters to vote "yes" on Warrant
Article #32,
This
issue deserves to be on the ballot since every national election has
local implications. When our legislators have been “bought” by
corporations who help them get elected, they are beholden to them -- not
to us, the voters.
Under
the Citizens United ruling only millionaires or those backed by
millionaires are able to compete on the national stage. Rep Ann Mclane
Kuster spent over $3 Million to get elected as the NH-2 US Congressional
Representative in 2012. Once elected, Rep Kuster like all others
elected under Citizens United, have to get on the campaign funding
treadmill to raise at least $4000 per day to prepare for the next
election cycle. How much attention do our representatives have left for
us, their constituents?
Some
have suggested that by voting against Citizens United we are
“demonizing corporations." How is preventing corporations from secretly
buying our elections "demonizing" them? Donations by corporations to
candidates is legalized bribery which we all end up paying for in both
additional product costs and less responsive representation.
If, like me, you are tired of wasteful advertising paid for by special interests vote "Yes" on Article 32.
This
is a bipartisan issue, vote "Yes" on Article 32 and then commit to
asking every candidate what he or she will do to reform our bloated and
corrupt system of campaign finance.
Sincerely,
Patricia Martin
