U.S. Democracy Held Hostage By The Rich As Never Before

[xchrom]

http://www.alternet.org/activism/us-democracy-held-hostage-rich-never

This week, Republican presidential hopefuls like Gov. Scott Walker, Gov. Chris Christie, and Sen. Rand Paul will travel to an exclusive resort near Palm Springs, Florida to kiss the rings of David and Charles Koch.

The New York Times calls it the "Koch primary."

Over the last five years, the Koch political network has evolved into what many have described as a shadow political party. The Kochs and their network of wealthy donors spent $300 million in the 2014 elections, after raising at least $400 million in the 2012 presidential races, with almost all of the spending passing through an array of political vehicles that are officially "independent" from candidates and political parties.

Today, candidates who receive the blessing of Charles and David can watch their political fortunes skyrocket, thanks to the huge financial resources the Kochs and their deep-pocketed allies can funnel into elections. Joni Ernst, for example, was a local elected official four years ago, yet this year was sworn-in as a U.S. Senator and delivered the Republican response to the State of the Union address--a rapid trajectory which she attributes to support from the Koch political network.

If a "Koch primary"--where a handful of wealthy donors can determine political futures, regardless of political party--sounds more like an oligarchy than a democracy, you are probably right.

[Scuba]

1. Squat Wanker will count this as "foreign policy experience" since it's in California.