Corporate money is greatest threat to our democracy

Our political divide today is perhaps at its widest since the Civil War, and yet there seems to be a disheartening agreement between our two major political parties when it comes to campaign finance.

We have reached a surreal point when corporate entities are funding two parties with deep ideological divides. Why would they do that? Because corporate interests have only one goal: privileged access to elected officials helps ensure corporations can foresee and fight off any future legislation that might affect their profit margins.

Entities like Monsanto and the Koch brothers could not care less about the social issues that divide the two parties, but they will not hesitate to use those issues as a wedge to put legislators into their own pockets. This corporate bribery is the greatest threat to our democracy.

Throughout my campaign I have encountered public anxiety about the Republican desire to privatize programs like Social Security or Medicare, and understandably so. These are invaluable programs that should never be put at risk by Wall Street. But a more pressing issue today is the privatization of our elected officials. As a Democrat, it pains me to say that the Republicans do not have a monopoly on this addiction.

With both parties gorging on corporate PAC contributions, meaningful campaign finance reform will not come easy. This will hinder our efforts to address important issues like education, poverty and access to affordable health care.

Thirty years ago, the thought of holding funding for education hostage was appalling to everyone, regardless of where they fell on the political spectrum. But now we see house majority members refusing to set allowable growth. While at the same time, money that could be going into education is instead funneled back to their corporate sponsors.

So what's the solution? The solution must come from us, and two things must happen. First, we need candidates who will staunchly refuse corporate PAC money offered to their campaigns. Second, we need voters who will step up and support such candidates. My campaign has taken the first step by refusing any corporate PAC funding. I am asking the voters of the 73rd District to take that second step by supporting me in the coming election.

' David Johnson is the Democratic candidate in Iowa House District 73. Comments: dajohnso42@me.com