Dear Editor:

I find it amazing that there has not been a greater outcry about the recent Supreme Court decision. I am personally outraged by the justices’ notion that corporations have the same rights as individual citizens. As far back as 100 years ago, Teddy Roosevelt adopted the Tillman Act in response to the de-facto buying and selling of elected officials. Through the years, further laws have been enacted to curtail the power of corporate lobbyists. The Supreme Court eviscerated long-standing rules prohibiting corporations from using their own money to influence elections in the decision Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. This has broad and deeply damaging consequences for our democracy. It strikes at the heart of our democracy by undermining our ability to conduct fair elections and vitally important public policies.

We must respect and honor the Constitution and its values. Proposing a constitutional amendment is normally not an appropriate response to losing at the Supreme Court. This action should not be attempted unless very important matters are at stake. Our founding fathers, in their wisdom, made it very difficult. A proposed amendment must be passed by two-thirds of the House and Senate and then ratified by three-quarters of the states. I believe the buying and selling of public office to the likes of Goldman Sachs is that important. Public Citizen, a public advocacy group, intends to mount a campaign to make this happen. I hope the residents of LaGrange will give it careful consideration. (Public Citizen, 1600 20th St. NW, Washington, DC 2009, www.citizen.org)

Edna Foster

Silverette Circle, LaGrange