Читать книгу Romney's Lament: He Blinded Me With Science - Larry Inc. Stein - Страница 11

Prior to the Citizens United decision, Republicans sang the virtue of disclosure requirements as an adequate safeguard for liberalized rules on political contributions. After the judicial victory, the tune changed. Liberal vendettas would be launched against contributors. As an addendum to the Constitution, large corporations and the wealthy are entitled to free, and anonymous, speech.

Advocacy groups formed under IRS Code 501(c)(4) such as Karl Rowe's American Crossroads GPS, are not required to, and generally do not, disclose donors. Giving one hundred dollars to a campaign is a contribution, ten million is an investment.

The return on the investment may come from our tax dollars. As voters we have the right to know the investors. Quoting Justice Lewis Brandeis, "Sunshine is the best disinfectant." I am proposing that we all form the Sunshine Movement. We boycott all television stations (and their advertisers) that accept adds from advocacy groups that do not disclose donors. Also, we vote against any candidate for federal office who opposes full disclosure.

Former California Treasurer, Jesse Unruh, famously said, "Money is the mother's milk of politics." If we are to be subjected to cheesy political ads, we should have a right to know the source of the milk.