From Jeanette Kelty
Monroe
To the editor:
As an American and a registered Wisconsin voter, I am particularly excited about the upcoming April 5 presidential preference and spring elections. There will be referendums in Green County on the ballots in the city of Monroe, city of Brodhead, town of Clarno and the town of York. These are advisory referendums brought about by concerned citizens involved with the non-partisan movement United To Amend working with common councils in these municipalities to give voters the opportunity to democratically weigh in on the hot button issue facing our nation today: Corruption in our political contests by unlimited, unregulated influence of Big Money/Dark money in our election processes and on our candidates.
Specifically, the intent of the referendums here in our local jurisdictions as well as others that are taking place all over the country object to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United vs. The Federal Elections Commission (2010), as well as other older court rulings that can be seen dating back over 200 years that have gradually and incorrectly granted incorporated entities with Constitutional rights that are intended for actual human beings. Also over time with rulings under Supreme Court case law there has come about the equally false notion that money is equivalent to free speech. With the greed and the "pay to play" culture that now rules the actions of most of our legislators "We the People" need to take action. Abraham Lincoln stated that we should have "government of the people, by the people, and for the people."
I want to encourage all voters who have the referendum in their municipality on April 5 to vote yes. So far, 42 percent of Wisconsinites have positively supported this referendum ... and the work by volunteers for United to Amend goes on. The more jurisdictions that support this, the more difficult it will be for legislators to ignore the will of the people. The goal of amending the Constitution will not, by itself, create any new laws - this referendum does not commit us to precise wording of the amendment. It does make it clear, as this movement sweeps across the country, that "We the People" have intent and will for our government to work democratically for the people and by the people.
Monroe
To the editor:
As an American and a registered Wisconsin voter, I am particularly excited about the upcoming April 5 presidential preference and spring elections. There will be referendums in Green County on the ballots in the city of Monroe, city of Brodhead, town of Clarno and the town of York. These are advisory referendums brought about by concerned citizens involved with the non-partisan movement United To Amend working with common councils in these municipalities to give voters the opportunity to democratically weigh in on the hot button issue facing our nation today: Corruption in our political contests by unlimited, unregulated influence of Big Money/Dark money in our election processes and on our candidates.
Specifically, the intent of the referendums here in our local jurisdictions as well as others that are taking place all over the country object to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United vs. The Federal Elections Commission (2010), as well as other older court rulings that can be seen dating back over 200 years that have gradually and incorrectly granted incorporated entities with Constitutional rights that are intended for actual human beings. Also over time with rulings under Supreme Court case law there has come about the equally false notion that money is equivalent to free speech. With the greed and the "pay to play" culture that now rules the actions of most of our legislators "We the People" need to take action. Abraham Lincoln stated that we should have "government of the people, by the people, and for the people."
I want to encourage all voters who have the referendum in their municipality on April 5 to vote yes. So far, 42 percent of Wisconsinites have positively supported this referendum ... and the work by volunteers for United to Amend goes on. The more jurisdictions that support this, the more difficult it will be for legislators to ignore the will of the people. The goal of amending the Constitution will not, by itself, create any new laws - this referendum does not commit us to precise wording of the amendment. It does make it clear, as this movement sweeps across the country, that "We the People" have intent and will for our government to work democratically for the people and by the people.
