Members of the Auburn City Council who refused to vote on, or even consider, a citizen-initiated resolution on campaign finance reform are placing themselves out of step with the majority of Maine citizens and legal scholars alike who understand that something is amiss when U.S. elections can be bought and sold to the highest bidder.

Maine’s motto is “Dirigo, I lead,” and citizens of Maine have always taken the motto to heart on issues ranging from gay marriage, to medical marijuana, to clean elections.

U.S. history is at a critical juncture when Maine must once again assert its common sense leadership. It is unfortunate that some of our esteemed fellow citizens fail to grasp the gravitas of the situation.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling that corporations have the same rights as people and their political contributions are protected by the same freedom of speech as people has changed the political landscape of this nation. It has enabled wealthy outside interests to assert influence in political races and greatly decreased the ability of average citizens to have their voices heard on critical issues affecting their everyday lives.

That was readily apparent in Maine’s most recent election, with $3,576,310 in spending by outside interests compared to $634,807 in 2008.

An amendment to the U.S. Constitution is the necessary fix to remind government and big business that the framers of the Constitution intended a government “of the people, by the people and for the people.”

Sandy Doctoroff, Auburn