1. United States
2. Pa.
3. Letter

The Citizens United ruling fundamentally undermines the democratic principles that our nation stands for. By equating money with speech, the Supreme Court has opened the floodgates for corporations and wealthy individuals to exert undue influence over our political system. This decision has turned elections into auctions, where the highest bidder can drown out the voices of ordinary citizens. I believe that democracy thrives when everyone has an equal say, yet Citizens United allows a small number of affluent entities to dominate the political discourse. This creates a disparity that disenfranchises millions of Americans who lack the financial resources to compete with corporate interests. As a result, policy decisions increasingly reflect the priorities of the wealthy rather than the needs of the general populace. Moreover, the ruling exacerbates the problem of corruption in politics. When candidates must rely on large donations to fund their campaigns, they become beholden to their donors rather than their constituents. This leads to a governance system where the interests of a few are prioritized over the welfare of the many. We see this in the way legislation is crafted, reflecting corporate priorities rather than the public good. Additionally, Citizens United has given rise to a toxic political environment where negative advertising and misinformation flourish. With the influx of dark money from Super PACs, voters are bombarded with misleading messages that distort the truth and further polarize our society. This not only erodes trust in our political institutions but also discourages civic engagement among those who feel their voices are drowned out. It is crucial that we recognize the dangers posed by the Citizens United ruling and advocate for reforms that restore the integrity of our electoral process. We must push for legislation that limits the influence of money in politics, ensuring that our democracy is truly representative of all citizens, not just the wealthy few. Only then can we begin to rebuild a political landscape where every voice has equal weight and power.