SOMETHING ROTTEN IN THE STATE OF ELECTIONS: Make it a priority to END CITIZENS UNITED
SOMETHING ROTTEN IN THE STATE OF ELECTIONS:
Make it a priority to END CITIZENS UNITED
By Hester Schell
A Red State future for Oregon? No. Not if we can help it! The truth is our Democratic candidates just don’t have enough money to combat the MAGA money coming from out-of-state donors. And, we know now local Nike head-cheesePhil Knight gave millions to Christine Drazan’s gubernatorial campaign. Massive amounts of money supporting more lies are destabilizing our way of life and making it doubly difficult to get the truth out there. This is how corporations buy elections. We are at risk of becoming a Republican-controlled State House and losing the Governor’s seat. Should that happen, what we believe about Oregonians and how we care about our environment, guns, education and women’s reproductive health will change. Big business wants the trees, the lithium and other heavy metals just under the surface of our vast deserts. As David Byrne of Talking Heads asked decades ago, “My God, How did we get here?”
Some History January 21, 2023 will mark twenty-three years since the devastating Supreme Court ruling: Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (FEC). Let’s take a look. Serious damage with dire consequences has wreaked havoc on how we finance elections, showing just how fragile our democracy is. Basically, this one highest-court decision reversed long-term campaign finance restrictions, legally enabling corporations and other outside groups to spend unlimited funds on elections. We can see those results here in Oregon: Outside money poured into districts to sway the outcome, often with lies that no one seems to be able to stop. We allow massive distribution of lies and misinformation in the guise of free speech, which was the argument used to win Citizens United v. FEC. Take State Senator Mark Meeks, for example, up for reelection, whose opponent has no problem plastering lies. The problem is people don’t know the truth. Senator Meeks has done so much for Oregon families, workers – middle class, average people just trying to survive income inequality, unfair rental and lease increases, inflation, homelessness and rising medical-care costs. Meeks needs to remain in our State Senate.
“While special interest groups, wealthy donors and corporations have long had an outsized influence in elections, that sway has dramatically expanded since the Citizens United decision, with negative repercussions for American democracy and the fight against political corruption.” Tim Lau, for The Brennan Center
What can YOU do between now and the ballot mail-in deadline?
Get out and walk the precincts. Especially effective is the Neighborhood Leader program. The numbers don’t lie. When we knock on doors and talk to our neighbors, it has a measurable effect on voter turnout. When Democrats turn out to vote, we win.
GET STARTED BELOW at the link, by signing up for some volunteer shifts over the next few weeks. Roll up your sleeves and get out there to support our Democratic values, deeply reflected by our candidates’ platforms: The climate emergency, affordable housing, pay equity, decent and affordable health care, mental-health resources, sensible gun laws and background checks, protections for our environment by saving forests and ensuring salmon have a place to spawn.
STAND UP FOR TRUTH. CALL OUT THE LIES.
Let people know the negative attacks are packed with lies. This is not the time to sit home, or not vote because you think the midterms aren’t worth your attention. Voting Blue in ’22 matters.
Sign up for a shift here.