"Justices Who Dissented From The Citizens United Majority Opinion"

Justices who dissented from the Citizens United majority opinion (declaring unconstitutional certain statutory prohibitions upon corporate expenditures for political advertising) made strong arguments favoring Congress’ right to limit corporate and union campaign advertising expenditures. Dissenting Justice Stevens said that the court’s opinion was a “rejection of the common sense of the American people, who have recognized a need to prevent corporations from undermining self-government.” Commentators have noted that Congress and the public should be allowed to express their concerns about the possibility of powerful special interests using their wealth to undermine legitimate public goals. They argue that restricting corporation and union expenditures by legislation designed to promote political equality is in the public interest and should not be prohibited. Eliminating the ban on unlimited corporate funding of political advertising supports the growing popular complaints concerning the maldistribution of our country’s wealth and provides some justification to those who wish to “Occupy Wall Street”.