Too much Money?
I was recently playing ActiVote. The app was made with the intention of making a more informed voter, Its loads of fun. You can answer policy questions, then see how other people answered in a percentage. It has so much more, but I must digress. I want to focus on this one question in particular, the question was primarily about Political Corruption. It presents mostly on information on forms of corruption naming, lobbying, bribery, extortion, nepotism, cronyism, patronage, parochialism, graft, embezzlement, and influence peddling. It also goes on to say that the shift some believe that the shift in money in politics dates to the 1976, Buckley v Valeo case where the supreme court ruled that government could not limit corporate spending, because it violated freedom of speech. Then in 2010 expanded that to non-profits, for-profit, unions, corporations, with the Citizens united. Making it so the FEC can no longer enforce spending limits.
What I found most interesting about this question was the response, 78% of people the level of corruption is Unprecedented and alarming. And I for one am inclined to agree, when I look at just that short list, I can say yeah most of that our government officials participate in. then I factor in things I have recently learned such as to get a committee seat in congress you have to spend approximately 2/3 of your time fundraising, its simply an open secret and a sad fact. With a 4-ish day week, it is no wonder nothing gets done. roll into Washington on a Monday, sneak out early Friday. An interesting anecdote from John Stuart reveals that while getting the PACT Act passed for the Vets, john got a meeting with some people from congress. Thay said they are fully on bord, and they love the idea, want to move Forword with the PACT Act. But they are super busy and wanted them to wright the Bill. Witch begs the question if they asked the Vets to wright the bill, who else do they ask to wright bills? Then top that off with lobbies such as the Gun’s or Big Tech, simply making Large “donations” to the tune of 20K - 80K USD. I can actually draw a line, between Tom Emmer getting involved with Crypto and him introducing actual bills into congress. The same can be said about Emmers support for Israel, approximately 80k USD. In donations and he is now a very Vocal supporter, while before the donations he stayed quiet. The definitions of corruption have been so narrowed that unless you have Bars of Egyptian gold, you are not considered corrupt. Just fill out form 9715G1 and it is all good, so long as we classify the corruption correctly.
At times it makes me wonder if our Democracy truly stands for the people anymore as a republic or is it just some strange hybrid of Democracy and Oligarchy? A republic that primarily is for the Wealthy in this country. In 2016 approximately $6B where donated to federal political campaigns, 80% was donated by 0.5% of the US population. Then I think about what old man Warren Buffet said in an article once, about how since around 1980’s there has been a war on the middle class by the wealthiest in the country. Witch is clearly clear when you look at the wealth gap in the country. The lines on the graph will begin to diverge around 1980.
I am not entirely sure what to do about our current predicament, but I do know that just because something is not illegal does not mean it is not corrupt. I think one of our first steps should be to pass comprehensive Campaign finance laws, improve our code of Ethics for our Government officials. Because not all of them are corrupt, it is the system that has been corrupted.
Money Dose not = Free Speech
