The Counter-Narrative America Needs
In 2010, the Supreme Court’s Citizens United v. FEC decision fundamentally altered American democracy by granting corporations unprecedented political power. Today, we’re writing the next chapter of this story—not in courtrooms, but in communities where real citizens are reuniting to reclaim their economic freedom.
The Citizens United Legacy: Corporate Personhood Unleashed
The Citizens United decision didn’t just change campaign finance—it crystallized a worldview where corporate interests trump human needs. The ruling essentially declared that:
- Corporations are people with constitutional rights
- Money equals speech in political discourse
- Unlimited spending shapes democratic outcomes
- Corporate interests can override citizen welfare
This judicial framework has enabled the very financial exploitation that Citizens Reunited exists to combat. When corporations can spend unlimited amounts to influence policy, predatory lending practices get protected, debt collection abuse gets ignored, and working families get left behind.
Citizens Reunited: The Democratic Counter-Response
Where Citizens United scattered individual voices in favor of corporate megaphones, Citizens Reunited brings those voices back together. Our name isn’t coincidental—it’s strategic. We represent the democratic response to corporate personhood: actual citizens uniting for actual freedom.
The Power of Collective Action
Just as the Supreme Court recognized corporate collective power in Citizens United, we’re demonstrating citizen collective power through:
Collective Purchasing: When citizens pool their resources, we can buy debt at the same 3-5¢ on the dollar that corporations pay, then forgive it instead of exploiting it.
Collective Negotiation: Instead of individual debtors facing billion-dollar collection industries alone, our members negotiate as a unified force with real leverage.
Collective Ownership: Rather than extractive corporate structures, we operate as a member-owned cooperative where those affected by debt actually control the solutions.
The $30 Million Brand Strategy
Our brand positioning isn’t just clever marketing—it’s a $30+ million strategic asset that does three things simultaneously:
- Tells Our Story in two words that everyone understands
- Creates Emotional Connection by directly addressing the source of economic frustration
- Provides Built-in Marketing through the existing awareness of Citizens United
When potential members hear “Citizens Reunited,” they immediately understand we’re the democratic alternative to corporate power. This instant comprehension is worth millions in marketing education that would otherwise require explaining cooperative economics from scratch.
Beyond Brand: Structural Democracy
But Citizens Reunited goes deeper than brand messaging. Our dual-class share structure embodies democratic principles that Citizens United abandoned:
Class R Shares (Democratic Rights): Every member gets one vote regardless of contribution level. A member paying $0/month has the same governance power as one paying $500/month.
Class M Shares (Economic Rights): Higher contributors receive proportional economic benefits, but cannot override democratic decision-making.
This structure ensures that economic power cannot override democratic power—the exact opposite of what Citizens United enabled in the political sphere.
The Ripple Effect: From Debt Relief to Democracy Reform
As Citizens Reunited scales to millions of members, we’re not just providing debt relief—we’re demonstrating an alternative model for how financial services can operate:
- Transparency Over Secrecy: Our board meetings are public, our finances are open, our decisions are documented
- Member Service Over Profit: Success is measured by debt relieved and lives improved, not shareholder returns
- Democratic Control Over Corporate Hierarchy: Members vote on major decisions affecting their financial futures
- Community Wealth Over Individual Extraction: Surplus goes back to members or community programs
The Movement Moment
Citizens United happened during a different era of American capitalism. Today, after decades of rising inequality and the COVID-19 economic crisis, millions of Americans are ready for cooperative alternatives.
Citizens Reunited arrives at the perfect moment when:
- Record debt levels create urgent need for collective solutions
- Declining trust in traditional financial institutions opens minds to alternatives
- Technology platforms enable cooperative coordination at unprecedented scale
- Political awareness connects financial exploitation to broader democratic concerns
Join the Counter-Narrative
Every new member of Citizens Reunited represents a vote for economic democracy over corporate exploitation. When you join us, you’re not just accessing debt relief services—you’re participating in the largest experiment in financial democracy since credit unions began.
The Supreme Court gave corporations the power of personhood in Citizens United. Now it’s time for actual persons to reclaim that power through Citizens Reunited.
Together, we’re not just managing debt—we’re rewriting the rules of who controls American finance.
Ready to be part of the counter-narrative? Join Citizens Reunited and help prove that when citizens unite, we’re stronger than any corporation.