I magine that the United States is still a democracy, that the big money in politics from corporations and the wealthy had not given these special interests control of our government and drowned out the voices of most Americans.
If democracy still reigned, would our “representatives” be debating such issues as the relative rights of corporations vs. real people? Or campaign contribution limits? Or minimum wage? Or gun control? Or climate change action?
Of course not, because the will of the people is clear on all these issues, and in a democracy, government truly represents the people and follows their overwhelming will.
The fact that our government is even debating these issues — not to mention repeatedly favoring special interests over the will of the people — is yet more evidence that we are no longer a democracy.
Recent studies have confirmed this tragic development, which is outrageous and unacceptable. Serving big donors exclusively, elected representatives ceased protecting the essential democratic rights on which our country was founded, while apathetic voters stayed home and let it happen. Now government works strictly for big donors. To have government work for us again, we need to build grassroots support for a complete overhaul of campaign finance and lobbying activity.
A local township is helping lead the way. The Princeton Council has become the first in the nation to pass a resolution pressing federal and state lawmakers to support the American Anti-Corruption Act, which would limit the corrupting influence of big money in politics. Democracy requires this kind of support — from everyone. Tony Giordano Howell