The success of American Promise depends on citizens across the United States engaging with their community members to build momentum for the 28th Amendment. To support that effort, American Promise Associations are forming communities nationwide. Wendy Flores, one of the leaders of the emerging American Promise Association in Columbus, Ohio, shares her thoughts on the upcoming election and its implications for the future in this post.
In the days leading up to the midterm elections, I am heartened by the increasing parade of young people knocking on my door in support of various causes, candidates, even just making sure I’m registered and ready to do my civic duty on November 6.
The fact that they’re under 25 is exciting enough; that they are young women and men of very diverse backgrounds willing to endure the weather in my less diverse Upper Arlington neighborhood is downright cause for celebration. After all, for years many of us have tacitly accepted the inexorable erosion of our political process. But we’re now realizing it’s more like an iceberg that’s sheared off into the sea, leaving us teetering on the most dangerous of precipices—the very survival of our representative democracy.
Lawmakers have largely traded in their moral conviction for corporate sponsorship and measure their personal worth by the longevity of their political lives. Citizens United effectively stole our voices—that is, those of “We the People.” As long as big pharma, oil and trade companies can write the health care, environmental and product safety legislation that governs their very actions simply by buying “their” representatives’ passage to elected office via untenable attack ads on competitor candidates, then We the People inevitably lose.
This is a cross-partisan, existential issue. Corporations must not be allowed to obliterate our interests in their insatiable quest for profit. Citizens United must be overturned, by a 28th Amendment, to preserve the voice of the people. So along with America’s youth finding and applying their mettle, I’m equally inspired by the growing number of voters and candidates—of all parties—who support the 28th Amendment and restoration of the will of “We the People.” This includes, most recently, Rick Neal of our 15th Congressional District. Bravo.
