Sunday, April 6, 2014

The Power of Money in Politics

As you must have heard, the Republicans are the party of the rich. The Democrats are the party of the poor people and the middle class.

If you don’t believe me, just ask any Democrat.

Being a Democrat means hating the rich, especially if they are named Koch.

Each time the Supreme Court opens the door to more campaign contributions, liberal Democrats are outraged. Now, they tell us, rich Republicans will be buying elections.

At the same time, Democrats are doing their best—with some considerable Republican support—to offer amnesty and citizenship to more illegal immigrants. In this way they will assemble an army of the poor to counter the effect of big Republican money.

But I digress.

When pondering the question of money in politics, especially of big money in politics, it is useful to have some facts at one’s disposal.

A few days ago Investor’sBusiness Daily provided some in an editorial. Clearly, it is doing God’s work.

And contrary to the hand-wringing on the left about the Supreme Court's 5-4 McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission ruling Wednesday,
Democrats far outspend Republicans on elections. It isn't even close.

According to OpenSecrets.org, from 1989 to 2014 rich donors gave Democrats $1.15 billion — $416 million more than the $736 million given to the GOP. Among the top 10 donors to both parties, Democrat supporters outspent Republican supporters 2-to-1.

But what about the villainous Koch brothers, those conservative plutocrats supposedly seeking to control American politics? They rank 59th on the list of big givers — behind 18 unions and No. 1 Act Blue, the massive left-wing fund raiser that gives only to Democrats.

Indeed, a recent book, "The New Leviathan," says donations to Democrats outstrip those to Republicans 7-to-1. How can this be? Democrat support soars when you include unions, universities, superPACs, nonprofits, left-wing interest groups, and — ready for this? — Wall Street (which overwhelmingly favors Democrats).

So Democrats don't really want to restrain money in politics. Just the money that goes to Republicans.

From Bill Gates to Warren Buffett to Wall Street bankers to Silicon Valley tech oligarchs... the big money in this country is more and more concentrated in the hands of Democrats. At least, they've been getting their money's worth. 


5 comments:

Anonymous said...

The funny thing about American politics.

Most superrich are pro-Democratic but Republicans are more slavish to the superrich, pledging to cut their taxes even more.

Most Jews are Democratic(and even neocon Jews tend to be social liberals)and anti-conservative, yet the GOP is even more slavish to Zionist-Jewish interests than the Democratic Party is.

Huh?

Sam L. said...

"...the GOP is even more slavish to Zionist-Jewish interests than the Democratic Party is."

Repubs like democracy, Israelis like democracy, works for me. Dems want to rule, and are heavily conflicted about democracy.

Anonymous said...

Will you please stop using facts, Stuart?

It makes me uncomfortable. The ideological fiction the Democrats had me believing made me much more comfortable. I thought I was on the side of the plutocrats, big corporate money, big tobacco, big religion, big ______, and everything else. Now I'm left to feel small.

You jerk.

Tip

Anonymous said...

Ummm... what are "Zionist-Jewish interests," pray tell? The survival of their country, the only liberal democratic state in the Middle East? The nerve!

Tip

n.n said...

Anonymous:

Democrats promise everyone a pot of gold. They fulfill their promise through a progressive devaluation of capital and labor, while skimming the profits, and reducing the problem set.

It's also telling that America has participated in more wars and conflicts under Democrat administrations.

So, Democrats do not receive due credit for denigrating individual dignity, devaluing human life, and making war, not love.

That said, make life, not abortion. Spontaneous conception is a myth.