Money Men Say, Voters Move Over, It’s Not Your Election!
Mostly about Republicans, but has broader application.
http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/01/23/money-men-say-voters-move-over-its-not-your-election
As Brooks vision of a coup unfolded, the donors and their allies would handpick their candidate, winnowing the field. He reiterated his NewsHour lamentations with a New York Times column headlined Time for a Republican Conspiracy!
So lets get this straight: One of the most prominent of Republican elites in the country, who has even been touted as President Obamas favorite pundit (were not making this up!), is calling on the donor class to rescue the party from the rabble. Games over, voters: The oligarchs will decide this election.
For thats what they are: a small, unbelievably wealthy group of the powerful and privileged who already have a tighter grip on our nation, its government, politics and economy than the rapacious robber barons of our first Gilded Age. Brooks and like-minded elites believe they must be trusted to do the right thing. Let them be the Deciderers.
Count billionaire Charles Koch among them. He recently told Stephen Foley of the Financial Times that he was disappointed by the current crop of Republican presidential candidates and especially critical of Trump and Cruz. It is hard for me to get a high level of enthusiasm, he said, because the things Im passionate about and I think this country urgently needs arent being addressed.
Koch said that he and his well-oiled machine had given each of the candidates a list of issues it wants addressed but it doesnt seem to faze them much. Youd think we could have more influence. In other words, if youre going to spend $900 million on this election, as Koch and his cronies plan to do, shouldnt you get what you paid for?