Citizens Disunited: McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission

Authors

Adam Lamparello, Indiana Tech Law SchoolFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2015

Publication Citation

90 Indiana Law Journal Supplement 43 (2015)

Abstract

The wealthy are democracy’s darlings, the middle class are its stepchildren, and the poor are its orphans. Corporate giants line the pockets of senatorial candidates—and purchase influence—while average citizens walk into a polling station and cast a largely symbolic vote. Stated simply, money creates a soft inequality by dominating the political process. Like the “soft bigotry of low expectations,”69 the soft inequality embedded in our political system has created a liberty gap between the prosperous and the poor. McCutcheon was an opportunity to bridge this gap. Instead, the Court enshrined the status quo by holding that Congress could only regulate against quid pro quo corruption or its appearance. In so doing, McCutcheon ensures that many voices will remain silent.

Recommended Citation

Lamparello, Adam (2015) "Citizens Disunited: McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission," Indiana Law Journal: Vol. 90: Iss. 5, Article 4.
Available at: https://www.repository.law.indiana.edu/ilj/vol90/iss5/4