Editor, Gazette-Journal:

In the good old days if you liked a candidate you gave them money. Too simple, I guess. Political parties wanted all they could get, but they also wanted to hamstring the other guys (and gals). The Supreme Court decision fondly known as Citizens United opened Pandora’s Box, letting 501(c)(4)s like CU collect massive sums of money, while where that money came from is mostly protected. So-called "voter information or education groups" sprang up like noxious weeds. These so-called nonprofit weeds are exempt based on a lie. They claim to be non-partisan. They are issue driven, one-party supportive PACs. Both parties have them and they damage our democracy.

He who can buy votes is not new, just refined and more dangerous. Campaign finance and how to funnel money to campaigns has always been an issue, but now the monster behind the curtain is not often known. Americans are eager to be told how to think and with this untraceable money, lies and slander can...