Counter-event emphasizes democracy

Steps away from the discussion between Republican strategist Karl Rove and Robert Gibbs, senior campaign adviser for President Barack Obama, at the IU Auditorium, concerned citizens spoke out against the political system the duo represent.

Speakers at the town hall style event argued the influence of individuals have been removed from democracy in the United States, replaced by elites of the private sector and huge sums of money.

More than a dozen speakers took to the steps of Showalter Fountain, discussing a variety of topics including health care coverage and student debt.

But most shared a common theme: privatization of democracy, through loss of the commons of labor and knowledge, has shifted the political power and voice from the people to corporations.

Former Bloomington Mayor Tomilea Allison and former City Council President Charlotte Zietlow called the meeting to order. Both expressed concern that big money was running the current political system.

Multiple speakers cited the Supreme Court case Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, through which corporations are allowed to contribute unlimited funds to political campaigns. 

“Money is not speech and corporations are not persons that the Bill of Rights protects,” Allison said.

The current political system ignores the real issues of the people, Zietlow said, and without discussion of real issues, the public is not informed.

“The basis of democracy is to have people well educated and know what they’re talking about,” she said.

At its height, the group swelled to about 100 people. Students passing by the fountain stopped, some for a few seconds, others for an entire speech.

Freshman Taylor Hurt wasn’t sure what to make of the topics but was pleased the meeting happened.

“People are getting their opinions out, and that’s never a bad thing,” Hurt said. “You can’t take things at face value and then you have to do your own research.”

As night fell, individual speeches gave way to an open mic. One student, sophomore Neelan Scheumann, agreed with some speakers’ idea of eliminating corporate influence during election season.

Scheumann said the types of ideas at the meeting were a high contrast from his conservative upbringing in Fort Wayne.

“I don’t necessarily agree with all of it, but it is nice to have both sides of the issue to listen to,” Scheumann said.

Bloomington City Councilman Andy Ruff, a member of the crowd, said a concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few is helping to rewrite legal foundations of the U.S. He said change can come when people voice their concerns, their issues.

“It’s gotta come from the bottom up,” Ruff said. “Obviously, there’s not going to be a shining savior, Barack Obama or otherwise.”

Ruff said he wanted to show solidarity with the town hall attendees and oppose the farce occurring in the auditorium.

“I would like to see a citizen’s arrest of Karl Rove,” he said.