Op-eds from the Campaign to Legalize Democracy

Two op-eds written by Campaign to Legalize Democracy steering committee members have now been published in several papers--here's the start of the articles, with "read more" links to their most recent appearances on mainstream media websites. It's great that the word is getting out about the need for a constitutional amendment to retain personhood rights for human persons--if you write an op-ed or letter to the editor and would like us to feature it here, please email it to afd@thealliancefordemocracy.org.

Amend Constitution, restore our citizenship

By Ben Manski & Lisa Graves

You just lost the heart of your citizenship, thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court.

In Citizens United v. the Federal Election Commission, five justices asserted:

"By taking the right to speak from some and giving it to others, the government deprives the disadvantaged person or class of the right to use speech to strive to establish worth, standing and respect for the speaker's voice."

The "disadvantaged person" they reference is, unbelievably, the corporation. In law-speak, this means that as "persons," corporations now wield constitutional protections against government regulation of elections.

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Unhinged. Absurd. Outrageous.

by Ben Manski

That's how you could describe the Supreme Court’s recent decision in Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission. Unfortunately, the decision was much, much worse than that.

How much worse?

You might have some idea if you've ever found yourself facing foreclosure on your home; or worked at a company that was downsizing and laying people off; or enrolled in a college where the tuition keeps doubling; or faced salary freezes year after year, even while the cost of living rises. Most of us know how those things feel. It's the feeling of losing control over your destiny.

Get used to that feeling. It has just become what it feels like to be a citizen of the United States of America.

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