Nine Communities Vote on Big Money in Politics
Nine Communities will vote to reclaim democracy from moneyed interests.
On Tuesday, November 6th, Wisconsin residents in nine communities will vote on whether to amend the U.S. Constitution to clarify that only humans should have constitutional rights and that money is not the same as speech and political spending can be limited to allow all Americans to participate in the democratic process.
Voters will cast ballots in Jackson, Sauk and Wood counties, the villages of Readstown, Westfield and Weston, and the towns of Kickapoo, Rib Mountain and Vermont.
If all vote in favor, 142 Wisconsin communities will have called for the We The People amendment. Nationwide, 19 state legislatures have done likewise, as have more than 780 towns, villages, cities, and counties.
“We cannot solve any of the pressing issues in front of our country as long as our politicians do not represent us, and they won’t until we get the big money out of politics,” said Weston resident Carolyn Michalski.
Multiple polls show over 90% of Americans, regardless of party, think special interest money has too much influence in American political campaigns.[1] Many polls show that Money in Politics is a top issue for voters. [2]
Readstown resident, Kent Gallaway said, “The avalanche money is burying average citizens under a wave of corruption that is the worst ever in our nation’s history. Government is being corrupted at every level. We must amend the Constitution to roll back the effects of Citizens United.”
Former State Senator Dale Schultz summed it up well. “We’re talking about billionaires turning this country into a Russian-style oligarchy, where there are two dozen billionaires who buy the whole political process… we are awash in money because of Citizens United, and it puts good people in both parties in a difficult situation.” [3]
One volunteer, Ben Dorshorst of Marshfield, expressed frustration: “Citizens in 133 Wisconsin communities have passed resolutions calling for an amendment. We need state legislators to put it on a statewide ballot, but they won’t even let the bills have a public hearing!”
The roots of the problem run deeper than Citizens United. Over a century ago Robert M. La Follette spoke out against corruption wrought by the “concessions and privileges” given to corporations by legislators. “Why,” he asked, “in a government where the people are sovereign, why are these things tolerated?”
United To Amend is a non-partisan, grassroots movement. For more information: wiuta.org
Contact George Penn, 608-244-6436, georgepenn51@gmail.com
[1] https://www.washingtonpost.com/page/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2017/10/28/National-Politics/Polling/release_497.xmlhttps://mayday.us/data/20150925_gop_polling_results.pdfhttps://mayday.us/data/20150925_dem_polling_results.pdf
http://www.texansunitedtoamend.org/uploads/5/0/8/1/5081028/representus_analysis.pdf
[2] https://blogs.chapman.edu/wilkinson/2017/10/11/americas-top-fears-2017https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/campaign-wire-2018-midterms/card/1537810213
[3] Senator Dale Schultz presentation, March 7, 2014 at the L.D. Fargo Public Library, Lake Mills, WI