Boston, Massachusetts – October 12th, 2017 – “Oligarchy or democracy: That is our choice, and a 28th Amendment enables us to make the right choice,” said Jeff Clements, Founder and President of American Promise, testifying in front of a packed Massachusetts State House Thursday in support of amending the U.S. Constitution to get big money out of politics.
“This 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that we seek will replace the Supreme Court’s doctrine of political inequality, reflected in decisions such as Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, with foundational American principles of equal citizenship and representation and safeguards against systemic corruption,” said Clements. “Most Americans feel excluded by our political system because we are excluded: money increasingly controls who can run, who can serve, and what issues matter.”
It’s true – according to a Bloomberg poll, 78 percent of respondents, including 80 percent of Republicans, want Citizens United v. FEC (2010) overturned. Americans are being priced out of the political process, and an Associated Press poll found that 75 percent of Americans feel they lack political influence. American Promise members see this apathy as an opportunity, and work tirelessly to thaw this resignation.
People in all 50 states are stepping up, leading by example and showing what it means to be citizens, not consumers. Big or small, there’s something every American can bring to this movement, and that’s the American promise.
Join American Promise and get involved in your community today!
To date, 19 states have called on Congress for a Constitutional amendment overturning Citizens United. Nevada joined 18 others this past May, and over 25 states currently have similar resolutions going through their legislatures. Citizen leaders in Massachusetts and Wyoming are currently steeped in ballot initiatives trumpeting the will of the people on this issue, taking advantage of yet another available civic channel and putting it to good use.
In order to get money out of politics, we’ll have to replace its political influence with ours, and we are.
