How The Wealthy Wage War on Democracy Itself

[marmar]

from truthdig:


How The Wealthy Wage War on Democracy Itself

Posted on Oct 23, 2013
By Sonali Kolhatkar


If the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United ruling was not devastating enough for American democracy, a new case could wipe away any remaining vestige of election integrity. The nation’s highest court heard oral arguments in McCutcheon vs. Federal Election Commission this month. If the court rules in favor of Alabama mining CEO Shaun McCutcheon, rich Americans could make unlimited amounts of campaign contributions directly to political candidates and parties. Currently, the federal limit for individual contributions is $123,000 over two years, a figure that the majority of Americans don’t even earn as basic income during that time span.

The conservative National Review recently published a critique of what author Ammon Simon called “the Left’s fear tactics” over sounding the alarm on this new potential deregulation of money in elections. Simon begins by making the case that money does not in fact influence elections, citing several questionable studies that, according to him, prove “the evidence just doesn’t lend itself to the ‘legalized corruption’ theme.”

But he then contradictorily laments “the misguided belief that we can regulate away money’s influence over the political system.” The conservative admiringly points out that, “Historically, campaign-finance laws have always been undermined by innovative workarounds.”

Simon’s argument therefore could be summarized thus: Rich people should be able to influence democracy simply because they are rich, but don’t worry, their money doesn’t have any effect. But if you do try to curb the influence they say they don’t have they will simply acquire it by other means so just give up trying. ......................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/how_the_wealthy_wage_war_on_democracy_itself_20131023

[xchrom]

1. du rec.

[ReRe]

2. Crap

[SunSeeker]

3. Sadly, the SCOTUS conservative majority don't care about democracy.

They see no problem with the rich buying elections. To justify their anti-democratic position, the SCOTUS conservatives make the absurd assertion that money is speech. To them, elections are the problem, not money. Hell, they STOPPED a vote count just to make sure their boy Bush got in.

[on point]

4. Pass a law that only registered voters in that district can give to the pol

Eliminates some of the problem

[L0oniX]

5. “the Left’s fear tactics” Well maybe it's only the left that gives a shit.

Maybe the left is the group that actually pays attention to this shit. Maybe it's only the left that gets out there and protests. Maybe it's only the left that realizes that both parties are owned by the 1%.

For that matter is the National Repuke worth taking seriously? ...and Ammon Simon is the epic shining example of the repuke hypocrite.

[ellennelle]

6. wait a sec

how does this make sense??

lemme get this straight. this guy is asserting that the money given to a candidate will have no effect on election outcomes or quid pro quo or anything, right? this is why he claims it should be ok, right?

then, sheez - why the hell would anyone consider doing this?? what would be the point?

what an utterly foolish and pointless investment! yeah, folks, just throw your money right down this hole right here (ending up in the pockets of media outlets, by the by; we should never forget this fact - follow the money!!)

yeah, that's the ticket, great logic there, dude.

kinda reminds me of all the arguments stoners make about how pot really has no effect, totally innocuous stuff, see i can work and drive and work heavy equipment like trains....

my response is always, therefore, why bother even smoking it if it has no effect??

seems to apply here, as well.

[no aspersions toward stoners intended here, just the flimsy logic. i mean, c'mon, get stoned if you want, no big deal for me, but don't try to justify it by saying it has no effect; just makes you look stupid and stoned. like these wealthy donors looking stupid and craven.]

[bemildred]

7. Yep, that's why we are going to tax them back to being normal citizens.

It is obvious at this point that they lack the moral or intellectual capacity to use their ill-gotten assets responsibly.

[Octafish]

8. Money trumps Democracy.

And Peace.