An effort to overturn Citizens United by constitutional amendment started in Massachusetts on Sept. 20. Citizens United is the 2010 Supreme Court decision that allowed corporations to pump hundreds of millions of dollars into our elections, resulting in the disconnect between Washington and the electorate. Citizens United is one reason many congressmen are much more beholden to their donors than to the people they represent.
You may have noticed volunteers gathering signatures at the Transfer Station, General Store, Harvard Farmers Market, and elsewhere around town. These signatures are required to place on the 2018 Massachusetts ballot a motion to set up a commission that would push the state to join other states calling for a 28th constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United. We need to collect 60,000 verified signatures.
Your neighbors are volunteering with the organization “People Govern Not Money” in support of this nonpartisan initiative. You can support this effort by signing our petition when you see us out, by volunteering to collect signatures with us, and by getting informed on this very important topic. Visit the website https://peoplegovernnotmoney.org to learn more about the initiative and Citizens United and to find out how you can volunteer as well.
Let’s get back to “one person, one vote”!
Bob Benson
South Shaker Road
