Super PACs will play a major role in the up coming elections, and mainly the presidential election in 2016. Back in 2010, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that corporations and organizations have the same rights as U.S. citizens. The ruling gave corporations "first amendment rights", so they have the right to endorse and speak about which ever candidates they choose to. Super PACs, officially known as "independent-expenditure only committees", may not make contributions to candidate campaigns or parties, but may engage in unlimited political spending independently of the campaigns. Without a spending limit, they can produce commercials,make calls and mail as much they want for the candidate they're supporting and against their opponent. These super PACs can influence the outcome of elections with their spending. This is important because money can corrupt the political process.
Conservatives think the Super PACs are good for the Democracy. They believe that its a way to educate voters and spread awareness. Conservatives say Super PACs will increase transparency. Under Federal law, political action committees must report names of their donors. Super PACs inform voters and help level the playing field. The fact that Super PACs are anti-democratic is off-base. Their function is to spread information and arguements about the candidates to the voters.
First off, there are Democratic Super PACs that exist. Some reports state that Democratic super PACs have even raised more than the GOP super PACs. The liberals oppose super PACs because they feel that corporations spending all that money takes the vote out of the peoples hands. Elections will be bought and paid for by big donations from big corporations. Super PACs can spend unlimited amounts of cash on advertisements saying whatever they want about candidates. Theres no law saying the ads have to be true. Smear campaigns are not illegal. Opponents think that all the political ads can possibly steer less educated voters.
Personally I don't side with neither conservatives or liberals. Since the Supreme Court ruling back in 2010, both parties are now taking advantage of the decision. The Democratic Party were opposed to the ruling in the beginning but they are forming Super PACs just as the Republican Party has. Super PACs don't just affect the federal level of politics, local politics are suffering too. I feel that elections will be literally purchased now by the highest bidder. Big corporations always had a hand in who would be elected president. But now, legally being able to spend as much as they want, these Super PACs (corporations) will be running the country.
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