Corporations try to buy votes

The political system of our nation has yet again been altered by another congressional blunder. What began as a lawsuit over the production of an anti-Hillary Clinton film has turned into big business demands for unfettered campaign spending.

The primary build for this case, brought before the Supreme Court in 2008, was the claim that the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 restricted corporations from the protections granted to them by the First Amendment, specifically the freedom of speech.

The Supreme Court is not unfamiliar with the precedents set by past rulings regarding this amendment; however, under the context of this case, corporations are asking to be treated as privileged citizens. With funds and power stretching globally, the possibilities of corruption are infinite. So do they deserve to relish in the same rights as the individual?

The United States government thinks so.

The case of Citizens United vs. The Federal Election Commission came to a close on January 21 of this year with a 5-4 ruling in favor of corporation "right." Because of this, big business can now spend as much as much as they please on local and presidential elections to further their own agendas.

This radical expansion of corporate influence will result in the onslaught of attack-adds, robo-calls and direct mail in all future campaigns. With no restrictions, billions will be poured into elections, opening the door to more government manipulation and open bribery.

Commercialism and industry are trying to take over the USA, stretching the arms of their skewed judgment from coast to coast and the government is willingly stepping down. If we, the students, the mothers, the nine-to-fivers, the individuals don't speak up, who will? It is time for citizens of the United States to use their voice.