Letter: Elections shouldn't go to highest bidder

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April 24, 2012

Letter: Elections shouldn't go to highest bidder

The Salem News Tue Apr 24, 2012, 04:30 AM EDT

To the editor:

We are seeing a rapidly increasing flow of money into our electoral process from corporate interests. Elections are being sold to the highest bidder.

Due to a series of Supreme Court decisions over several years, corporations are now "people" and money is speech.

Two years ago, the Citizens United ruling allowed corporations and unions to spend unlimited funds on elections. Polls have shown that 80 percent of Massachusetts people oppose this ruling. It's time for citizens to instruct Congress to pass and send to the states a constitutional amendment that provides for elections funded by the people.

Fifteen Massachusetts cities and towns have now passed a resolution calling for an amendment. To learn more, come hear Jeffrey Clements discuss his book "Corporations are not People" on Thursday, May 3, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Endicott College's Wax Academic Center auditorium, 376 Hale St., Beverly.

Marie Hall

Salem

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