I-735 will take power

When is a campaign contribution a bribe? Fact: For every dollar corporations spend on political campaigns and lobbying, they receive $760 in return (zerohedge.com). Fact: From 2007 to 2012, America’s 200 most politically active corporations spent $5.8 billion on elections and lobbying and received $4.4 trillion in return (sunlightfoundation.com). Those trillions primarily benefited their shareholders, not ordinary citizens. In fact, you paid the difference in higher taxes, cuts in services, a decaying infrastructure, a runaway deficit—and yet had little influence on government policy.

How is this possible? Because a carefully vetted Supreme Court has turned a kind eye to unchecked corporate power and a blind eye to political corruption. But this year, Washington voters can do something about this outrage. Initiative 735 will put us on record with 17 other states demanding a constitutional amendment to overturn rulings that claim money (property) is political speech (ideas) and corporations are people and can “donate” unlimited money to campaigns.

Help propel a process to take power back from a small group of wealthy elites and return it to a Democratic-republic of the people, by the people, and for the people. Vote yes on I-735.

Bill Miller

Spokane