At 250, we should renew self-government
New Hampshire knows something about self-government. Our state constitution, adopted in 1784, declared that government is “instituted for the common benefit, protection and security of the whole community,” not just for the few or the well-funded, but for all of us.
Yet today, myself along with many Granite Staters feel that promise slipping away. Our notorious primary draws enormous sums of outside money, and ordinary citizens get drowned out by national donors and super PACs with no stake in our communities. This is not a partisan issue. It is a question of whether our system still reflects the will of the people.
Across party lines, there is growing support for a constitutional amendment restoring the ability of Congress and the states to set reasonable limits on money in elections. Twenty-five states, including New Hampshire, have already called for such an amendment.
With the largest full-citizen legislature in the country, local town meetings and a Live Free or Die spirit, New Hampshire has a long history of putting governing power in the hands of its citizens. As we mark 250 years of independence, let’s recommit to a government truly of, by and for the people. I urge my fellow New Hampshire citizens to learn more about this issue and talk with our elected officials about how to ensure this vital amendment becomes a reality.