People Power Vs Citizen's United

WI is a proving ground in the new landscape of American politics.  Since the passing of Citizens United, which empowers corporations as citizens, enacted by the Supreme Court in 2010, we are now seeing limitless financial resources being poured into key state and local races, to bolster an agenda that feeds the uber wealthy.  This is unfettered access to a political system that was inherently developed to represent the people of the nation.  It is now wholly and disproportionately representing the interests of big business and those rich enough to buy it.


In the recall efforts here in WI, we have seen a ground swell of grassroots activism, to counter the machinations of the corporate state.  Thousands of volunteers, tirelessly working to reclaim their state, by reaching out to neighbors and communities abroad.  Tens of thousands of unpaid man hours have gone into the recall efforts and the Get Out The Vote drives, not to mention observing exit polls and voter integrity at polling stations.


The efforts of the People have had modest but perceptible impact on the civic landscape.  But what we have seen, is the inequitable influence that unlimited funds and false campaign ads can have.  How discouraging, to see all that sweat equity negated by a quick stroke of a pen, signing millions of dollars to counter our efforts.  Our activism, which galvanizes our local communities, have been attacked and dismissed as irrelevant by outside money.  Money that comes from shady LLC's that disappear overnight, money that comes from out of state big business, that sequester their own interests, which more often than not are in direct conflict with the state's best interest.


And even if we do galvanize a united effort to reclaim our state, what faith is left that the elections will not simply be stolen.  Stolen like the Presidential election of 2000 in Florida, stolen again in 2004 in Ohio, and most recently, stolen in our own State Supreme Court Elections of 2011?


I ask the question, but have no answer.  No answer but one word.  Sisu.  Never heard of it?  Me neither until recently.  It's uniquely Finnish, and describes their National Spirit.  It means endurance, resilience, tenacity, determination, perseverance.


Or in Wisconsin, Forward.


-blogger, rising solari