How to Get Rid of "Citizens United"

[red dog 1]

We can do away with it without a new Supreme Court.
Nor do we need a Constitutional Amendment.
There's a far simpler way.

https://robertreich.substack.com/p/how-to-get-rid-of-citizens-united


https://democraticunderground.com/100220838222

[Initech]

1. To get rid of Citizens United, we need to get rid of the source of the insanity.

Which is Fox News and the Heritage Foundation. So many of our problems can be tied back to these two parasites that it's not even slightly funny.

[gfarber]

2. Citizens United Neutered

There once was a ruling obtuse,
From Supreme Court of the United States loose,
In Citizens United v. FEC’s name,
It tilted the game—
And loosed corporate cash like a sluice.

In Montana wide under Big Sky’s embrace,
They’re plotting a ballot-case ace,
To say with a shout,
“Keep money out!”
And put corporate power in its place.

Now California joined into play,
With nearly forty million to sway,
Were it its own land,
It’d fourth-largest stand—
Past Japan in GDP’s array.

(Behind Germany it neatly would slide,
With an economy muscular, wide.)
So if it decrees
“No spending, if you please,”
The shockwaves go far and worldwide.

From 2008’s modest sum,
One-four-four million had come;
By ’24’s spree,
Four-point-two-one billion, you see—
Super PAC floodgates went “yum!”

“Dark money” crept in through the night,
With donors kept well out of sight;
The cash multiplied,
Transparency died—
Elections grew pricey and bright.

Folks sigh, “We must patiently wait
Till the Court should revisit its fate,
Or amend the grand text—
A feat quite complex—
Constitutional change at that rate.”

But states hold a power long known
To limit what corporations own;
They charter each one,
And say what it’s done—
Its privileges carved into stone.

In Trustees of Dartmouth College v. Woodward’s lore,
John Marshall wrote firmly of yore:
“A creature of law,
With no will or claw,
Save what its creators confer.”

No powers exist till bestowed,
By statute and charter bestowed;
So spending on votes
May be left off the notes—
A power not granted, not owed.

That’s just what AB 1984 would do,
In California’s code shining new;
With Chris Rogers’s lead,
And Mike McGuire’s deed,
The measure makes corporate might through.

If Gavin Newsom throws in his weight,
And signs it to legislative fate,
With three-quarters opposed
To the ruling disclosed,
’Twould bolster ambitions for ’28.

So here’s to Big Sky’s bold stand,
And the Golden State lending a hand;
Make history plain,
Let democracy reign—
With people, not PACs, in command.

© 2026 Glen Farber. All Rights Reserved.

[Johonny]

3. Although, getting rid of 5 or 6 justices

On the current court isn't a bad thing either . . .

[GoCubsGo]

4. Public financing of elections would cure it, too.

Take the private money out altogether. No need incumbents to spend the bulk of their time raising money for their next campaign, either.