Harsanyi fails to mention Citizen United impact

David Harsanyi's commentary 'In Defense of lobbying” in The Gazette June 17 fails to mention that in 2010 the Supreme Court in 'Citizens United” changed everything by declaring a corporation is a person, with the same right of freedom of speech as you or I, and the right to invest millions of dollars into elections.

Whereas a human person is born, lives an indefinite time, and dies; a corporation is created by a state government, which determines its precise lifetime, or even perpetual life; and other things such as limited liability, which encourages investment, and spreads risks and rewards over many shareholders.

The problem with defining corporations as people with the right to freedom of speech is that many corporations are so huge, with billions in income, and millions to donate to candidates of their choice, that they have more power than the people. I highly recommend Jeffrey D. Clements' book 'Corporations Are Not People.”

Doug Goodner

Kalona