The growing Occupy the Dream movement for economic equality and empowerment  emerging across the United States has correctly determined that one of its top  priorities is to fervently support the passage of a Constitutional  Amendment to make all federal elections publicly financed.

Getting corporate money out of politics will stop and prevent the fatal  lynching of our democracy. The Constitutional Amendment will be effective in the  expanding national campaign to confront income inequality and economic injustice  that is a direct result of the cruel manipulation of the political process by  the greed and avarice of the interests tied to the 1 percent.

Democracy in the United States, especially from the experience and  perspective of the African American community, has always been on the one hand,  a reflection on the history of how Black people in America have had to struggle  to get the right to vote, and on the other hand, there has always been a crucial  need to focus on the contemporary challenges and opportunities to fulfill the  American dream of a quality life, equal liberty, and the pursuit of happiness  and economic empowerment.

But the truth is that this is not just a matter of urgent concern for Black  people alone. If democracy is not for all, then it is really not a democracy.  Economic discrimination and inequality is just as wrong and devastating as  racial discrimination and inequality.

That is why the valiant sacrifices and struggles of African Americans, Latino  Americans, Asian and Pacific Islander Americans, Native Americans, LGBT citizens  and others to overcome the debilitating realities and consequences of racial and  social injustice have also inured transformative benefits to all Americans  across the lines of race, class and ethnicity.

There is a clear correlation between the rise in poverty, income inequality  and the hijacking of American democracy by the 1 percent.

The systematic denial of the democratic right to equal economic opportunity  has already consigned millions of Americans to the severe hardships of  unemployment, housing foreclosures, inadequate health care, cynicism, and  massive hopelessness.

For far too many Black Americans and Latino Americans, the money-controlled  political system that aids and abets the corruption of democracy in the United  States, has also led to the apartheid-like disproportionate incarceration of  men, women and juveniles of color across the nation.

Thus the priority need for the Constitutional Amendment on this issue cannot  be overstated. American democracy is now in serious jeopardy from the political  abuse and neglect of the economic interests of the 99 percent by the 1 percent  who disproportionately control the wealth of the nation. 

Too many of our elected officials are brought out and paid off to do the  regressive bidding of their financial masters.

Democracy is being undermined more and more each day as a result of the  Supreme Court decision in the case of Citizens United v. Federal Election  Commission two years ago.

Since that backward 5-4 decision, corporations have been permitted to use  their money to pay for the unlimited broadcasting of game-changing political  advertisements that determine the defeat or election of candidates for the  office of the President, members of Congress and other elections.

The ‘conservative’ Supreme Court cancelled a 63-year ban on the use of direct  corporate money in federal elections.

That is exactly why we have to free the life and future of American democracy  from the hands of the 1 percent hangmen’s noose by passing the following  Constitutional Amendment:

Section1. All elections for President and members of the United States House  of Representatives and the United States Senate shall be publicly financed. No  political contributions shall be permitted to any federal candidate, from any  source, including the candidate. No political expenditures shall be permitted in  support of any federal candidate, or in opposition to any federal candidate,  from any source, including the candidate.  Nothing in this Section shall be  construed to abridge the freedom of the press.

Section 2. The Congress shall, by statue, provide limitations on the amounts  and timing of the expenditures of such public funds and provide criminal  penalties for any violation of this Section.

Section 3. The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by  appropriate legislation.

Section 4. This article shall be inoperative unless it is ratified as an  amendment to the Constitution by conventions in several States, as provided by  the Constitution.                 

Members of Congress are in the process of affirming their sponsorship and  support of this important Constitutional Amendment. Let your member of Congress  know that you support the legislation.

Our call to action is for you to join us in raising consciousness about this  legislative ‘solution’ that will require a strong grassroots movement in every  state.  Occupy the Dream, occupythedream.org, is mobilizing across the country to  support the Constitutional Amendment.

Let’s work to fulfill Dr. King’s dream of economic equality for all. Let’s  stop the lynching of American democracy. 

-Russell  Simmons

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