As the 2012 presidential primaries continue and the election approaches, campaign finance and super PACs are dominating the conversation. The Daily Orange conservative and liberal columnists take on the issue.

Despite popular notions often coming from the left, those against corporate campaign finance are interested in a selective suppression of free speech.

Much to the dismay of liberals, in the 2010 Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision, the Supreme Court ruled the government has no power to restrict the broadcast of electioneering communications.  

This includes restrictions on funding. Specifically, this ruling allows corporations, unions, nonprofit organizations and individuals to pool money with no limit in support of political candidates through political action committees.  

There is one condition. To pool funding with no limits, a PAC must have no direct coordination with candidates or political parties. 

This is the perfect blend for maximum political expression. People are free to support for their favorite candidates without government interference, but they are prevented from funneling money into their favorite candidates’ pockets. This blend is known as a super PAC.    

Critics on the left assert super PACs allow corporations to drown out the voices of individual Americans. A corporation is only a group of individuals who have chosen to come together, to produce goods or services.  

The First Amendment grants all people the freedom of assembly, and the Constitution sets no arbitrary limits on the resourcefulness or scale of an organization.  

At no point are governments or self-proclaimed free speech advocates on the left justified in knocking down groups of people that they find too well prepared to deliver a political message. 

We live in the United States where everyone is entitled to free speech and political expression, but no one is entitled to a free platform.    

Michael Stikkel is a sophomore computer engineering major. His column appears weekly. He can be reached at mcstikke@syr.edu. 

Published on February 29, 2012 at 12:00 pm