Tornado Times

Pop quiz: How much money are corporations allowed to give politicians for elections?

1. $100,000
2. $2,500
3. $20 million

Trick question. They are now allowed to give as much as they want.

This decision was made in late January when the U.S. Supreme Court moved to lift a ban that restricts the amount of money corporations can give to political campaigns.        Proponents for the decision say that as corporations are considered to be individuals, lifting the ban gives corporations their full First Amendment rights. However, this decision serves as one big step back for campaign finance reform, as it serves to give more power and sway to big business while virtually minimizing the common voter’s role in the election process.

The voice of the American people and electorate are increasingly silenced by corporations that can throw their money around, keeping politicians in their back pockets. Now, it will be even easier for politicians to swear allegiance to corporations and lobbyists in order to get re-elected.

So where does this leave the average American voter?  Unheard, unrepresented, and left even more disheartened by politics. After all, what individual can compete with a company’s billions?

We need to continue to protect the common man’s voice, values, and beliefs from corrupt politics and remember that this Supreme Court decision is just another form of government deregulation.

The last time the government thought it was a good idea to deregulate corporations like banks and insurance companies it lead to the devastation of our economy and a 10 percent unemployment rate (aka, our recession).

This Supreme Court decision is just another step leading to an even more corrupt corporate America. Although corporations have rights of individuals, no individual can measure up to a multi-billion dollar corporation. Therefore, corporations should have limits.

People seem to miss the fact that, at the end of the day, corporations are not people. Therefore we must draw the line somewhere to allow the individual to prevail when it truly comes down to it.