Forum Post: Just one request from me:

Just one request from me:

We need a 28th Amendment to the Constitution that establishes permanent public financing of all elections in this country and which eliminates all barriers to voting at all stages of the process, regardless of political affiliation. When we get that amendment, we will have finally established the democracy that this country always needed but never previously had. If we fail, then all the other demand items will not succeed, ultimately, as we will have left the political power structure completely in the hands of the 1%.

Looking at problems like the Glass-Steagall repeal or the Citizens United vs FEC decision, we are seeing the results of putting our democracy up for sale to the highest bidder. When we the people outlaw all private money in our political system, we will instantly render "corporate personhood" impotent: they can't use their deep pockets to buy what isn't -- and should never be -- for sale. Then, when the representatives of the actual people in this country are finally sent to the halls of government, they will be able to act with rational regard for the things we the people want and need. What we have right now are the representatives from Big Oil, Nuclear, GE, even foreign governments, etc. voting in Washington on the things they need in order to maintain their control and to grow -- the peoples' voice is just not being heard at all.

When those with money cannot buy elected representatives anymore, we'll finally abolish the ruling class phenomenon and establish a real representative democracy. Passing campaign finance laws in Congress is temporary and woefully piecemeal; only a Constitutional Amendment can provide a permanent fix to this problem.

We can take the next 8 months to decide the precise language of the 28th Amendment that we would like to propose, but if we don't stay focused on the central problem of private money in politics, we will never win against the 1% in the long term. Eliminate the power of private money in politics, and in one single move we can launch this country on the road to major, powerful reform in all the many diverse areas that are being discussed here and elsewhere.

-Patrick Conway, citizen