America at 250: A time for reflection

Californians have a proud tradition of standing up against the corrupting influence of money in politics. When the Watergate scandal exposed the rot that big money could breed, California responded by passing the Political Reform Act of 1974. Fighting back against corruption is part of our DNA here.

That spirit feels urgently needed today. The Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision in 2010 opened the floodgates to unlimited, largely untraceable spending in our elections, tilting our democracy toward those with the deepest pockets and away from ordinary citizens. True freedom of speech should belong to everyone, not just billionaires.

The good news is that Americans agree on the need for change. Across party lines, there is growing support for a constitutional amendment that will restore the ability of Congress and the states to set reasonable limits on money in our elections. 25 states, including California, have called for such an amendment.

Two-hundred-fifty years of self-government is worth protecting, and I want to make sure our valued democracy survives this age of “super money.” I urge my fellow Californians to learn more and to call on our representatives to support an amendment that returns our elections to the people — all of the people.

Laurel Hale

San Mateo