Democeracy: "It's all about money" - "Is American democracy dead?" - by Julian Zelizer

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.

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.

Read more: Opinion: Is American democracy dead? - CNN.com