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Answer: Spending money in politics is part of our cherished freedom of speech. Every American knows about the right to free speech. It’s a principle that is deeply ingrained into us from a young age. It’s also a vital part of our national identity as a free people. Yet while we agree on its importance in theory, in practice, the exercise of free speech in any meaningful way elicits skepticism. Recent polls show many Americans support the government punishing biased media organizations or limiting offensive speech. Beyond public opinion, there are even certain types of speech that trigger an avalanche of government regulations, not to mention a chorus of condemnation from activist groups. Want to buy an ad asking your senators to support criminal justice reform? Not so fast, some will claim “money isn’t speech,” so it shouldn’t be protected by the First Amendment. Want to form an advocacy organization with like-minded citizens and raise awareness about family issues? Well, “corporations aren’t people,” so they shouldn’t have free speech rights. In the literal sense, it’s true that money isn’t speech and corporations aren’t people. But it shouldn’t take long to realize the implications of imposing limits on spending money or organizing. Doing so would basically make the First Amendment useless for ordinary Americans. Take money, for example. If spending money to express a viewpoint is not protected, then the most impact you can have with free speech is to stand on a chair in a crowded area and start shouting. Reaching any significant number of people requires spending some money. Try posting on the internet without buying a computer, or making fliers without paying for paper and ink. Even borrowing those things would be a “contribution” from someone else. When viewed in this light, it’s no surprise that the Supreme Court has long said that spending money on speech is protected by the First Amendment.
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