There’s been a lot of talk about income inequality recently in the United States, an issue that is of great concern for many.
However, what has been overshadowed is the obvious political inequality in America’s supposed democracy.
In 2012, Los Angeles County had the worst voter turnout in the nation. Only one-third of eligible voters came out to participate, according to the Washington Post.
The situation seems worse than ever before, and here’s the big reason why.
In 2010, the Supreme Court passed legislation on the Citizens United case, opening the floodgates to unlimited amounts of donations by corporations and billionaires; all under the premise that corporations were people who own the privilege of having the all-important right of free speech.
Apparently extra money equals more free speech.
When only 20 percent of the population owns up to 90 percent of total wealth in this country, free speech is no longer free.
A person’s ability to exercise their first amendment right shouldn’t be determined by how much money they do or don’t have.
The ease at which super political action committees now raise money for political candidates of their choice undermines the entire democratic process.
So far, 158 families have donated $186 million to the 2016 election, nearly half of total contributions, according to CNN.
Free speech is essential to our democracy. I have no disagreements with that whatsoever, but let’s make one thing very clear.
Corporations are not people and their unlimited financial support of a candidate or party does not equate to free speech.
People elect politicians.
Verbal promises made to those people, who instill trust in their representatives, should be upheld in contrast to promises made to wealthy donors in exchange for contributions.
Politicians should be indebted to those who voted for them, not the elite who line their pockets with reelection funds.
The beauty of free speech is that all voices count one in the same. No matter who we are, what we look like or what we believe in, our speech and our votes are equal.
Our voice carries no weight in the boardrooms of corporations, but it is authority in matters concerning our country is unquestioned. With Citizens United, this just simply is no longer the case.
As a first generation American, I take voting and free speech seriously, but this fact falters in the face of political lobbying that corrupts Washington D.C.
In 2012, presidential hopefuls spent $2.5 billion on campaigns and estimates are predicting that figure to double in 2016, according to a report by MSNBC.
If this money at least provided useful information to the public, then by all means, educate us on real issues that are of concern.
More importantly, tell us exactly what you’re going to do so that we can make informed decisions in November for the true good of the country.
Instead of using political rhetoric and posturing, instead of just saying you want things to improve, prove you’re trying to accomplish this goal with action.
It is said insanity is doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results.
Even if that’s just one of many possible definitions, I expect that actually doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results, then failing to achieve anything at all, would make me go insane nonetheless.
Unfortunately our politicians choose to use unlimited sources of the almighty dollar supplied by the wealthy to instill fear and doubt in the minds of voters through negative campaign ads.
Even ads attempting to relay positive messages lack substance, flaunting prior achievements while promising more of the same once in office.
Ironically, the next ad is about how the candidate in the previous ad is an untrustworthy liar, citing irrelevant scandals and past transgressions.
Now that corporations have more political power and influence it’s little wonder as to why people are more disaffected with politics than ever before, and Citizen’s United has only made it worse.
The billions spent on these ads only does one of two things. Either it increases ignorance within society and clouds judgment, or it desensitizes people to the political system and important issues that are in need of genuine attention.
Very soon, if it hasn’t started already, television sets across the country will be forced to air out the dirty laundry of politicians over public airwaves. Hopefully we as a society won’t let private money manipulate public affairs any longer and the only way to prevent that from happening is by voting. It’s just a matter of going out and actually doing it.
