Traverse City Record-Eagle

Opinion

March 13, 2012

Forum: Let's get money out of our politics

By Beverly "BJ" Christensen ----

I believe American citizens have the constitutional right to elect our presidential candidates, not the super PACs and billionaires. Negative ads and political pundits demonize everyone and everything.

There is a "Trojan horse" in our elections. The Citizens United v. FEC ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court gives corporations, including multinationals, foreign entities, and unions, the constitutional right to spend unlimited funds to oppose or support a candidate without disclosing who is giving, how much, and to whom. The average citizen struggling to be heard is overpowered.

Now of course, a corporation has only one purpose, which is to make ever increasing profits for its shareholders. A corporation is a legal entity without conscience, doesn't bleed, doesn't bear children, doesn't die in war, and has no bellybutton. Corporations are not people and should not overrule the constitutional rights of persons.

Have you heard of ALEC? The American Legislative Exchange Council is a conservative corporate legislative advocacy group that writes model laws to make the legislator's job easier. A busy senator or congressperson only has to sign on as a co-sponsor. Go to www.ALECexposed.org to see for yourself more than 800 model laws that are being introduced and passed in nearly every state that are anti-consumer, anti-worker, anti-women, anti-public education, anti-clean air and water, anti-health care, anti-financial consumer protections, anti-immigrant, etc. If you feel under attack, there is good reason.

Some people always vote for the same party without researching what that candidate stands for. Perhaps they always vote the way their spouse or parents vote or as some media celebrity tells them. Some don't vote because they don't like politics and think all politicians are crooks.

But I say as a citizen of this country that I love, as a mother and grandmother, I believe we have a right and a responsibility to elect the best legislators to safeguard and advocate for our family, community and country. The best way to do that is to get the money out of politics. If a legislator's votes are bought by the highest bidder, why be accountable to constituents?

You have an opportunity to learn more about what can be done at the local level and join communities across the country working to get the money out of politics and restore democracy to the people. Move to Amend is that national nonpartisan movement. Go to www.movetoamend.org to learn more.

A Move to Amend Northern Michigan chapter is forming and you are invited. We will meet on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. in the lower level of Horizon Books in Traverse City. If you believe the votes of our legislators should not be bought by multinational corporations and foreign entities, if you believe legislators are accountable to the people who live and work in their district, if you are frustrated that your legislator is spending more time getting re-elected than solving this nation's complex issues, here is your chance to make a difference. Come join with thousands of communities signing on to Move to Amend. We need you.

About the author: Beverly "BJ" Christensen, president of Leelanau Independent Women for Democratic Action, is a retired corporate jet pilot, a retired teacher, 2011 Zonta Woman of the Year for Leelanau and a full-time volunteer.

About the forum: The forum is a periodic column of opinion written by Record-Eagle readers in their areas of interest or expertise. Submissions of 500 words or less may be made by emailing letters@record-eagle.com. Please include biographical information and a photo.

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