Sasha Abramsky Quotes

Five years ago, the Supreme Court, by a 5-4 decision in the Citizens United case told the richest people in America, "You already control the economy of the country. We are now going to let you control the political system as well".

Big money buys access in Washington, and access purchases influence. It is as simple as that. And they have basically given a green light, a further green light, after Citizens United, to the biggest money to have the bigger voice in our politics, and to sound out and drown out the voice of just ordinary citizens.

Big money and corporate interest drown out a lot of voices.

Either you're for ending Citizens United, or you're not. So, if you're for ending Citizens United, then act like you are against corporations influencing our democratic process.

Here in Maine, we know that the system of special interests influencing elections runs contrary to our democratic values.

What the Supreme Court did in Citizens United is to say to these same billionaires and the corporations they control: 'You own and control the economy, you own Wall Street, you own the coal companies, you own the oil companies. Now, for a very small percentage of your wealth, we're going to give you the opportunity to own the United States Government.' This is the essence of what Citizens United is all about - and that's why it must be overturned.

I think it's a terrible system, but money in politics is like water running downhill -- it finds its way.

If money is free speech, the big interests are sitting in front with megaphones and the average citizens are sitting in the back.

Without putting the brakes on out-of-control campaign contributions from individuals and corporations - it will be business as usual, with 1 percent of Americans pulling the strings.

The average American doesn't realize how much of the laws are written by lobbyists.

Do the elected officials in Washington stand with ordinary Americans - working families, children, the elderly, the poor - or will the extraordinary power of billionaire campaign contributors and Big Money prevail? The American people, by the millions, must send Congress the answer to that question.

But having said that, what's happening with campaign finance reform and our political culture is devastating.

Public employee unions are hardly the only group involved in bare-knuckles politics. Businesses lobby fiercely, and executives make hefty campaign donations.

The number one lobby that opposes campaign finance reform in the United States is the National Association of Broadcasters.

When one may pay out over two million dollars to presidential and Congressional campaigns, the U.S. government is virtually up for sale.

Maybe, just maybe, something is wrong when the greatest part of new money earned in our country goes to the top 1 percent.... There is something profoundly wrong then the millionaires and billionaires are running the politics of our country.... When billionaires are buying elections, that is not democracy.

Eventually, money wins in politics.

Our democratic system is slowly being corroded and eroded by the influence of PAC money.

Money is the mother's milk of politics

Donald Trump came to a political field that had already been shaped by big money in politics.

Money's dominance over politics isn't merely one problem of many our country faces. It is the problem! It is a growing crisis that prevents us from tackling anything else.

Citizens United provided unprecedented political weaponry to big special interests. My personal view was it was calculated to do that.

Citizens United was no victory for free speech.

The average citizen saw that the big PACs with the billionaires and the multimillionaires get what they want in Washington, but the average citizen is left behind.

Citizens United opened a door that's frustrated anyone who's looking.