Commentary: Citizens United and the return of the 'copper kings'

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/06/24/153095/commentary-citizens-united-and.html

Posted on Sunday, June 24, 2012

Dan Morain | The Sacramento Bee
Dan Morain The Sacramento Bee

Then as now, oligarchs were making their desires known.

A massive corporation controlled legislators and judges, and a commentator observed that "local folks now found themselves locked in the grip of a corporation controlled from Wall Street and insensitive to their concerns."

An expert testified before the U.S. Senate about "large sums of money that have been expended" on campaigns and how "many people have become so indifferent to voting."

A century ago, in the grand tradition of populist politics, Montana voters revolted against the "copper kings" and approved an initiative banning corporations from making "a contribution or an expenditure in connection with a candidate or a political committee that supports or opposes a candidate or a political party."