The Citizens United Decision: A Blueprint for Oligarchy
By Ricky Dana, Candidate for U.S. House – Missouri District 4
If we want a democracy that works for everyone—not just the wealthy—we’ve got to fix this. As your next congressman in 2026, I’m ready to lead that fight.
When the Supreme Court handed down its decision in Citizens United v. FEC back in 2010, it opened the door to an entirely new kind of corruption in American politics. The ruling said that corporations, billionaires, and special interest groups could spend unlimited amounts of money to influence elections—as long as they don’t “coordinate” directly with a candidate. The result? A rigged system where the rich get to decide who has the microphone, who gets elected, and who makes the laws.
Let’s call it what it is: an oligarchy. It’s not a government by the people anymore—it’s a government by the wealthy few who can afford to write million-dollar checks and fund misleading ads. It’s not just unfair; it’s un-American. And it’s killing the idea that every citizen’s voice matters equally.
Out-of-state billionaires now use Super PACs and “dark money” groups to flood local races with outside cash—money that drowns out the voices of real voters in places like rural Missouri. Meanwhile, working families, seniors, farmers, and everyday Americans are left shouting into the void, wondering why their needs are ignored while corporations and lobbyists get everything they want.
When I’m elected to Congress in 2026, I’m going to fight to end this corrupt system. I will work with Democrats, Independents, and any Republican colleague willing to put country over cash. We must pass bipartisan legislation that restores transparency, limits corporate influence, and puts power back where it belongs—with the people.
Will it be easy? No. Many of my colleagues across the aisle have grown comfortable with the status quo. They rake in campaign donations from these Super PACs and then try to claim they’re not influenced by them. But they know the truth, and so do we: the people funding their campaigns are the same people writing the playbook once the election is over. The donors tell them who to meet with, what to vote on, and which issues to ignore. It’s not public service—it’s political puppetry.
I don’t work for corporate donors, and I never will. I work for you—the farmers, the factory workers, the teachers, the nurses, the folks raising families and trying to make ends meet in rural Missouri. You deserve a seat at the table, not just a footnote in a lobbyist’s agenda. However, my opponent, Mark “Awful” Alford, works for out-of-state money and special interest groups—and his voting record proves it. He’s voted against Missouri time and time again.
Citizens United must be overturned, reformed, or neutralized—whatever it takes. Whether it’s through new law, constitutional amendment, or public pressure, I’m going to be part of the generation that finally says “enough.” The voice of the people is not for sale.
If we want a democracy that works for everyone—not just the wealthy—we’ve got to fix this. As your next congressman in 2026, I’m ready to lead that fight.
Sources:
Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission (2010) – Oyez
FEC Summary of Citizens United Decision
Brennan Center: Citizens United Explained
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