Liberals are running around today with their hair on fire after yesterday's SCOTUS ruling on campaign contributions. The "end is nigh" because there is (gasp!) money in politics. I'm shocked, I tell you, shocked to find out the gambling is going on in this establishment!! Well, I have a few words for my friends on the left who think life, as we know it, is over.
Pay attention to the nuance of this case. If you read the SCOTUS blog link, you can see that there is more transparency now. There is also a larger playing field for individuals, not just mega donors, to get in the game. If liberals really want to have an effect on this issue, they need to push for transparency. Anyone who donates in whatever amount has to be disclosed in the most transparent way.
Consider as well how much money was spent to defeat the president and how it all amounted to zilch. Money isn't as much of a factor as you think given other influences in politics today. Look at the example of social media. Facebook and Twitter are free, right? Anyone can post a video on YouTube. This is what people look at these days and they are more of an influence on votes than millions of dollars of donations. Honestly, the mouth foamers about this law don't understand the digital generation.
This ruling also puts more power back in the hands of the parties and out of the hands of the mega donors. I predict we will see the decline of the Super Pac as a result of this decision.
So, liberals, chill the fuck out! Money has always been in politics and it always will. If you try to ban it, somehow it will find a way to spread around. Keep it out in the open and remove all limits and watch how its effect diminishes.
1 comment:
What's different now is sheer brazenness of the decision that the wealthy are now able to spend unlimited amounts across the country, without any pretense that elections are now up for grabs by the richest people. What's even more cynical is that the majority opinion claims that this won't invite corruption.
Bundlers for special interests can now go to the entire Republican caucus and demand legislation be passed in exchange for tens of millions of dollars at a shot. Instead of having to fiddle around with hokey Super PACs and dancing around the law and the IRS, groups of megadonors can now directly buy the votes of every member of Congress.
When this becomes common, transparency is irrelevant. The compunction to hide the source of funds is strong when there are only few rich guys like the Kochs and Adelson buying elections, because it stands out. But when every CEO and board member of every oil company, pharmaceutical firm, coal mining company, movie studio and high-tech company can donate millions to buy the legislation and regulations they want, it won't matter what people say on social media.
Because with unlimited amounts of cash for campaigns, not only will the Internet, cable shows and the airwaves be filled with mendacious attacks, that money will also be used to play every dirt trick in the book to torpedo opponents' campaigns. Nixon's ratfucking campaign during the 1972 election season will look like a little girl's tea party in comparison.
That money will also be used to buy loyalty and pay operatives on the ground in every state, putting money in the pockets of the "little people." Mitt Romney sealed up the Republican nomination in 2012 with this tactic (donating to the campaigns of state legislators, many of whom were delegates to the national convention).
We were already headed down this path with the phony "social welfare" exemption for political advertising. This will simply accelerate our descent into oligarchy.
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