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WIth Constitution Day approaching on Sept. 17, I am reminded that “We the People” are the true source of power in this country. However, right now, unlimited outside money is flooding our elections. Billionaires and secretive super PACs, with no stake in our communities, are shaping our future. A recent article in the Bangor Daily News, “Elon Musk’s political machine begins spending to help Susan Collins,” is just one of many examples.
This problem didn’t happen overnight. Several Supreme Court decisions over the past half century have resulted in state control of campaign finance being stripped away so that dark money and political action committees from wealthy donors now dominate our elections.
While this is truly troubling to me, the good news is that citizens are waking up to the fact that campaign finance needs to be reined in. Even better news is that there is a constitutional amendment in the works that will give power back to the states to regulate money in politics. Twenty-five state legislatures have supported such an amendment and a joint resolution has been recently introduced in the U.S. House.
I believe an amendment that gives power back to the people is something to celebrate for all Americans. A good way to recognize Constitution Day and to begin taking back the power of “We the People” is to learn more about the For Our Freedom Amendment and to urge your elected officials to support it
Bonnie Sammons
Belgrade