Is Money Speech?

Dear Editor,

If money is speech, what's the upshot? - U.S. a democracy?

The Supreme Court in both the Citizens United and McCutcheon decisions used convoluted, tortured, and harmful free speech arguments to turn over the election process to moneyed interests. In Citizens United they allowed corporations and unions to spend unlimited amounts for "independent expenditures." In McCutcheon they allowed the very wealthy to donate about 30 times as much money in elections as before.

The majority in the 5-4 decisions said a one point "there can't be too much free speech." Here's why this is a false argument: Money as speech (first used in Buckley v Valeo) is the basis of the five Justices' whole argument in Citizens United and McCutcheon.

If money is speech and the floodgates are open in elections, the Supreme Court has enshrined and institutionalized the principle that "the best Congress money can buy" is a valid and protected principle of law. Money talks, "we the people" walk.

The Court also does not think there will be any corruption or appearance of corruption resulting from new billions pouring into the election process. What do you think?

There are many limitations to the First Amendment right to speech. The limitations are all based on the effects of the speech. Examples of limitations on speech: slander and libel, incitement to violence; obscenity; child pornography; "fighting words:"threats; and other limitations.

The effects test is very common sense. Take slander and libel. There is an obvious effect, the destruction of your good name and reputation if someone utters malicious and untrue things about you.

The effects of "money is speech" are obvious, as noted above.

The dissenting Justices noted in Citizens United and McCutcheon that the public may simply give up participating in the political process because the playing field is so tilted toward moneyed individuals and special interests.

A recent study by Princeton and Northwestern professors concluded the U.S. is more an oligarchy than a democracy. http://www.msnbc.com/ msnbc/the-us-no-longerdemocracy and http:// www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ worldnews/northamerica/ usa/10769041/The-US-isan oligarchy-study-concludes. html.

We need campaign finance laws that protect democracy. Please sign I-1329 to put Washington State on record with 16 other states and 8 more with ballot measures this year requesting a constitutional amendment to overturn recent Supreme Court decisions.

Norm Osterman

Walla Walla