This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
When the Supreme Court ruled on Citizens United in 2010 with a 5 to 4 vote, bribery became legalized in the United States and democracy was supplanted with corporate rule, which by definition is really fascism.
In the ensuing five years, there has been a movement to overturn this unthinkable act of judicial malfeasance in the form of groups such as Move to Amend, Wolf Pac and others, working feverishly to restore democracy. That is, a government of, by and for the people.
Here in Salt Lake City, Move to Amend volunteers walked door-to-door in neighborhoods, gathering more than 11,000 signatures, 85 percent of which demanded the Salt Lake City Council limit campaign contributions.
By this resounding response, which exceeded all expectations, voter apathy was overcome. This response was a mandate: We, the people, want this. Clear, concise and doable.
This was our way of saying, "Hell no, we won't go with Citizens' United." This is our way of saying, "Hell no" to this assault on our democracy.
Getting money out of politics is the first thing first. If the Salt Lake City Council values its constituency and values the will of the people, it will join the former mayor and the mayor-elect in supporting and passing the campaign finance ordinance.
Rita Marie Kelley
Salt Lake City