Throughout this election season, the American public has been subjected to the effects of Citizen’s United. As a liberal, I cannot support the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizen’s United vs. the FEC. Their decision, to allow for the continuation of electioneering by private corporations and non-profits, violates all the principles we as liberals hold. Not only does this law disproportionally favor the wealthy majority of the United States by allowing wealthy organizations to push their political messages upon uneducated voters, but it will inevitably lead to the dissemination of propaganda. If we allow the wealthy associations of America to create political ads we contribute to the trend of the uninformed voter. The voter who consumes propaganda instead of reasoned science and reports has the danger of voting in an uneducated manner. I have said before that science is the only way to beat the effect of propaganda, and the makers of these political ads are most definitely not political or social scientists.
In addition to the problem of propaganda, Citizen’s United begins an unhealthy relationship between the government and private associations. Corporate expenditures during campaigns lead to unfair associations between the ad’s funder and the politician, therefore excluding the public from law making. A politician who was supported by a certain corporation will likely lend an ear to their causes more than the public’s. This relationship will only continue the tradition of the ruling elite and oppressive organizations. If the government’s role is to be to represent and serve the people, taking money from minority interests will undoubtedly create obstacles between the public and elected officials. The public requires the government to protect them from these established corporations, not align with them. How is a government official expected to stand up for public interest to an oppressive corporation from which they received money to win the campaign in the first place?
Finally, here is my final piece of evidence against this wretched decision. We are living in an eclipse of the citizen, where voters are reluctant and uneducated. The political pageantry that films like Hillary: The Movie showcase leads our public to be more cynical than ever. Citizens lack community because they feel that their efforts be fruitless. If citizens had proper information instead of the theatrics in political ads, they would more effectively be able to decide upon laws that bring good consequences for the whole of the community.