Supreme Court ruling was wrong

Jerry O’Neil is wrong. In his opinion piece on Feb. 20, he supported the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United that opened the door for unlimited corporate spending on election issues. Montana voters overwhelmingly opposed that decision — ratifying I-166, a statewide initiative declaring that “corporations are not people.”

Jerry would have us believe that we are all wrong, that the Citizens United verdict is essential to insuring that incumbents can be successfully removed (although apparently that cannot happen without massive corporate spending).

I disagree. Instead of adding light to election decisions last fall, the incredible increase in single issue, special interest negative ads by such organizations and superPACs failed to inform anyone’s vote. In addition, those of us who are familiar with Montana history know that corporate spending can buy elections. The War of the Copper Kings proved that — and the Montana Constitution has attempted to protect us against the abuses of unlimited political spending.

Freedom of speech is not compromised by reasonable limits on political spending. Individuals who make up the corporation are free to exercise their first amendment rights the same as you or me.

Incumbents are subject to recall in each election. We do not need unlimited corporate cash flowing into our elections to exercise our right to vote against someone. The citizens of Montana know what they intended when they passed I-166. Our elected officials, including Mr. O’Neil, would be wise to listen to them.

Allen Chrisman

Kalispell