Money Talks, The Supreme Court Acts, and The People Respond

In light of the Supreme Court's ruling this past week (MCCUTCHEON ET AL. v. FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION) about campaign contributions and allowing much more money to flow into the federal electoral process...the words of a previously elected official seem worth noting:

President Woodrow Wilson—

"I am a most unhappy man. I have unthinkingly ruined my country. A great industrial nation is controlled by its system of credit. Our system of credit is concentrated. The growth of the nation, therefore, and all our activities are in the hands of a few men. We have come to be one of the worst ruled, one of the most completely controlled and dominated Government in the civilised world – no longer a Government by free opinion, no longer a Government by conviction and the vote of the majority, but a Government by the opinion and duress of a small group of men."

evox ACTION LINK: If you find yourself enraged and/or inspired, like members of MoveOn, Common Cause, Public Citizen, Move to Amend, and more (click those links for more in-depth information), visit the Money Out/Voters In action website to find events and activism in areas near you. The reaction has been swift, and your voice, not your wallet, should be heard no matter what side you are on.

About The Author

Andrew Mersmann

Andrew is the author of Frommer's global guide to volunteer vacations, "500 Places Where You Can Make a Difference" (Gold Medal Winner from Society of American Travel Writers: Best Guide Book 2010). He spent more than a decade on the editorial team of PASSPORT Magazine. He has volunteered and led teams on service projects around the world, and is honored to be on the boards of directors for the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation (AARBF.org) and Mentor Artists Playwrights Project (mentorartists.org). Mersmann has been a featured speaker, interview guest, or moderator on several travel talks, from the New York Times Travel Show, Smithsonian Associates, and the 92nd Street Y-TriBeCa to Oprah and Friends, Animal House, and The Focus Group on satellite radio as well as on NY1 television. Past participant at the Clinton Global Initiative and judge for Condé Nast World Changers Conference, he blogs about volunteering and service travel at www.ChangeByDoing.com. As part of the evox television team, he is dedicated to audience engagement, so if you're not engaged, he needs to be thumped on the head (gently)...or at least told (nicely). Twitter: /ChangeByDoing