Post Messenger Recorder -

Dear Editor,

Corporations Are People?  Money is Speech?  Politicians For Sale?  How did our Democracy get into this mess?

The “We The People” referendum April 3rd, in Green County, attempts to clarify the effect of money on our political process.

The governing document of our country is the United States Constitution.  The Constitution is essentially a contract between CITIZENS and their country, listing the rights of The People.  Corporations. unions, and nonprofit entities are never mentioned in the Constitution regarding human rights.

The First Amendment, the right of individual free speech, has become a lightning rod in our democracy. In 1825, Thomas Jefferson ruminated about the effect of the elitist on his country.  To paraphrase, “I hope we shall crush the aristocracy of moneyed corporations in its infancy.”

Though not mentioned in the constitution, corporations have litigated their way into a false representation of having constitutional rights. Many small but decisive Supreme Court Rulings have allowed a corporate foothold.  This came to a head in 2010, when the Supreme Court granted “Corporate Personhood.”  It also equated money with free speech.

Why shouldn’t corporations have constitutional rights?  Individuals, as physical entities, have these RIGHTS.  Corporations are artificial, paper creations, incorporated in a state and granted PRIVILEGES, by that state, to conduct business and make profits.  The company can do business in other states as long as it operates legally within federal Regulations such as the FTC, FCC, EPA, etc.

Since Corporations were now considered people, and people had First Amendment rights, Corporations and their owners, could spend unlimited money on their favorite candidates and political causes.  This became more impactful on elections with the advent of Political Action Committees (PAC) and Super PACS spending Dark (anonymous) Money, financing negative attack and false issue advertising.

These actions led to the formation in 2010 of a national grass roots movement to reclaim our democracy from the effects of corporate personhood and artificial entitlements.

Their goal is to obtain federal legislation of a constitutional amendment that states:

1. Only human beings have constitutional rights.  Corporations, Unions, nonprofits, or other legal entities are not people.

2. Money is not equal to speech, therefore regulating political contributions by artificial entities can be limited and regulated.

Since 2010, 19 states have called for this amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

In Wisconsin, working toward state legislation, citizens have been expressing their opinion.  At least eight counties, and 120 cities, villages and towns have passed advisory referendums by an average of 76% in favor of limiting the effects of money on elections.

In Green County, volunteers from Green County United To Amend have been encouraging municipalities to hold advisory referendums, with the goal of making Green County the ninth county to favor state legislation in support of a constitutional amendment. These referendums passed by an average of 82%. 

Enlightened by these results, the Green County Board voted to approve a countywide referendum for Tuesday, April 3rd.  Voting YES, means that citizens believe that the effects of Big Money needs to be limited in our political process. 

Anyone who wants answers about this issue can contact William Holland at (608) 325-2990.

William Holland,

Monroe