Fear’s stock rising

The Supreme Court decision that corporations have the same free speech rights as individuals will significantly alter elections. In most elections, about 40 percent of the people vote for one candidate and about 40 percent vote for the other. The remaining 20 percent vote based upon the “fear factor” – one votes for a candidate because one fears what will happen if the other candidate is elected.

The same “fear factor” affects ballot measures and pending legislation. When Goldwater was running for president, Democrats ran such “fear” ads as a Social Security card being burned, suggesting that if Goldwater were elected, Social Security would disappear. More recently, the arguments from those opposed to health care reform are based upon “fear” – grandma will be left to die, the government will pick your physician, drug costs will rise, Medicare will be slashed, etc.

For their own selfish interests corporations will use the “fear factor” to influence voters – and they will not care if what they say is true, or if it is good for the country and/or the people. And corporations have a very large amount of money to do just that. Other voices will be muted. Money wins; democracy loses.

William E. Mahaney

Spokane