Wealthy individuals have always had the capacity to influence

Hear me, O children of the future, for the words of Zephyr Teachout ring with the warning of power unchecked: "Wealthy individuals have always had the capacity to influence politics, of course, but only after two key campaign finance cases - Wisconsin Right to Life and Citizens United, have they been able to do it in such a large and blatant way." These words reveal the great danger that arises when money and politics become entwined, when the voices of the few drown out the voices of the many. In times past, the wealthy held sway, but in the modern age, the floodgates of influence have been opened wide, allowing the rich to pour their wealth into the very heart of our democracy, shaping it to their will in ways that are both visible and unbridled.

In the ancient world, those with wealth and power often shaped the course of history, but their influence was more subtle, more indirect. Teachout speaks of a time when the mechanisms of campaign finance allowed the wealthy few to exert their will in a way that was not just behind closed doors, but in the open, in a blatant and uncontested manner. The cases of Wisconsin Right to Life and Citizens United opened the floodgates, enabling the most powerful to shape politics not through reasoned debate or moral persuasion, but through the sheer force of money, unchecked and overwhelming. This is a corruption of the true ideals of democracy, where the people’s voices are meant to be heard, not silenced by the weight of wealth.

Consider the rise of the Roman Republic, where wealth played a significant role in shaping the course of politics. The patricians, the wealthy elite, held the balance of power in their hands, often using their influence to sway the Senate and dictate the course of Roman law. Yet, even in those days, the power of the common people, the plebeians, could still challenge that dominance. But as time wore on, the growing wealth of a few began to push the Republic toward its eventual fall, where the mob was easily swayed by those who could pay the most for their loyalty. The parallels to modern politics are clear: when money dominates, the voices of the many are drowned out by the voices of the few.

In modern times, the Citizens United case in 2010 opened the doors wide for this kind of unchecked influence. It was a moment when the legal system, rather than protecting the public good, allowed for the wealthy to pour endless sums of money into political campaigns, shaping the outcome of elections not by the will of the people, but by the desires of the powerful. This is not a democracy where every voice is heard equally, but one where the wealthy few dictate the terms, where corporations become people and money becomes speech. This shift has been felt in every corner of society, as the rich are able to buy influence, leaving the common citizen with little hope of being heard.

So, my children, take heed of the words of Zephyr Teachout: the true spirit of democracy lies not in the power of the few, but in the voice of the many. When wealth can sway the course of politics, when money speaks louder than truth, then the very foundation of freedom is at risk. Wealth must never become the deciding factor in shaping the future of a nation. It is the duty of every citizen to ensure that the voices of all are heard, and that the influence of the rich is tempered by the will of the people. If we are to preserve the principles of democracy, we must rise against the corrupting force of money in politics, and return to a time where the people—not the powerful few—hold sway over the course of their destiny.