We are told that every vote counts, but when large name corporations are buying their ways into political office, it is difficult to believe our votes matter.

There used to be a limit on the amount of money corporations and other groups could give to both campaigns, however this cap has increased with every election. In 2010 The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in 2010 in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission lifted limits on how much money could be given to and spend by outside spending groups.

Politics have evolved into a money and power hungry industry that thrives off of the support of super political action committees, or PACs- which are independent political action committees which may raise unlimited sums of money from corporations, unions and individuals but is not permitted to give specifically to any specific candidate.

In April of this year the McCutcheon v. FEC Supreme Court ruling terminated the limits on individuals’ campaign contributions with the reasoning that such limits violate the First Amendment, or freedom of speech. By doing so the Supreme Court has stated that corporations are people and that money is equivalent to free speech.       If this is ruling is not reconsidered, which it being proposed to as a constitutional amendment called Senate Joint Resolution 19, the average American will have no voice. The future of politics and our government will solely be run on a “who has more money” basis. The Supreme Court decision to remove the limit of financial assistance that can be given to political groups completely annihilates the voice that truly matters—the voice of the people

The Citizens United webpage states that their goal is to restore the founding fathers’ vision of a free nation, guided by the honesty, common sense and good will of its citizens. The argument at hand is how these methods restore a former vision of our founding fathers when their views distinctly revolved around the voice of the people. Our votes are kicked under the rug because these multimillionaires are able to spend so much on their vote, ours will never make a difference. If anything, our democracy is at risk.