American democracy faces a very real threat. The power of money is
overwhelming the power of average voters to influence government
decisions. While this is an old lament in politics, social scientists
are now finding very concrete proof about the damage being done.
Read more: Opinion: Is American democracy dead? - CNN.com
The problem revolves
around the way in which we fund our political campaigns. Opponents of
campaign finance reform are having a field day. Over the past few years,
they have watched with delight as the political parties and Supreme
Court have slowly eviscerated the Watergate-era campaign finance
reforms.
When the Supreme Court
issued decisions citing constitutional barriers to the regulation of
campaign finance and independent organizations have figured out new ways
to influence politicians, opponents of reform proclaim that the system
is better off. At a minimum, they argue that money and lobbying has
always been part of this nation's politics: There is nothing much to do
about it and the republic has survived.
The opponents of reform turn a blind eye toward the substantial evidence
of how the nation is creating an unequal playing field that leaves many
citizens virtually disenfranchised even when they retain the precious
right to vote. Policies such as the tax system are skewed toward
wealthier Americans, thereby worsening the cycle of inequality from
which the nation can't seem to escape. As Elizabeth Warren recounts in her new book, the big banks had overwhelming influence as policymakers handled the crash of 2008.
The political parties
introduced new mechanisms, such as soft money, to get around regulations
while the Supreme Court dismantled the 1974 reforms through a series of
historic decisions.
One of the most damaging
results of these changes has been that the political benefits flowing
to those with greater financial means worsens the economic inequality
that has become such a defining part of modern times.
These kinds of findings
should be shocking to Americans and offer more than enough evidence
about the dangers we are unleashing through the continued dismantling of
the campaign finance laws and the failure to impose serious regulations
on lobbying.
Note EU-Digest: It does not matter which political party is in power. The system is completely rotten to the core. Look at
the Ukraine. It's all about money when we in the West talk about
sanctions.
Example: our EU, USA - latest sanctions against Putin focus on his inner circle of cronies who will not be allowed
to have bank accounts (including offshore banking) in the West.
Unfortunately these sanctions also shed light on the fact that prior to the Ukraine crises and sanctions these basically illegal practices were allowed by the Western powers. Also look what is going on in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iraq, Iran, China....it's all about money and the Democracy issue is just a cover-up.
Unfortunately these sanctions also shed light on the fact that prior to the Ukraine crises and sanctions these basically illegal practices were allowed by the Western powers. Also look what is going on in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iraq, Iran, China....it's all about money and the Democracy issue is just a cover-up.
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