Sen. Harry Reid: American politics is currently just a war between billionaires
Source: Raw Story
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) on Tuesday said that billionaires controlled American politics because of the lack of campaign finance laws.
Im here because of the flood of dark money into our nations political system poises the greatest threat to our democracy that I have witnessed during my tenure in public service, he said during a Senate Judiciary hearing. The decisions of the Supreme Court have left the American people with a status quo in which one sides billionaires are pitted against the other sides billionaires.
So we sit here today with a simple choice: Do we keep the status quo and argue all day and all night forever about whose billionaires are right, whose billionaires are wrong, or we can work together to change the system to get this shady money out of our democracy and restore the basic principles of one American, one vote, Reid remarked.
The Senate hearing was held to discuss a proposed amendment to the Constitution that would overturn the Supreme Courts controversial decisions in the Citizens United and McCutcheon cases.
The amendment would grant Congress and the states the authority to regulate the campaign finance system, but would not dictate any specific policies or regulations.
Republicans, siding with the Supreme Court, have argued that campaign finance laws that limit political donations and spending violate the First Amendment.
###
Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/06/03/sen-harry-reid-american-politics-is-currently-just-a-war-between-billionaires/
Posted with permission
Autumn
(45,057 posts)2017?
Orrex
(63,203 posts)Autumn
(45,057 posts)DonViejo
(60,536 posts)Autumn
(45,057 posts)bank on that, they do.
DonViejo
(60,536 posts)And thus my response, "you'd be surprised..."
joshcryer
(62,269 posts)How do we get rid of them when we blame Dem's for not "working on changing that"?
djean111
(14,255 posts)so I can help match the billionaires' money.
I have stopped playing this particular game, it does not end well, I think.
Autumn
(45,057 posts)and it does not end well for us.
djean111
(14,255 posts)I need to save my money so I can buy those damned peas I am supposed to eat.
Wonder what is below canned peas on the chained CPI list.......
Autumn
(45,057 posts)Brigid
(17,621 posts)closeupready
(29,503 posts)See how easy that is, when you use your imagination?
Dustlawyer
(10,495 posts)Also, don't settle for the watered down version we all know we would get if you are serious. Go for the one that fixes the problem of buying our politicians!
freshwest
(53,661 posts)We must GOTV for the amendment to overturn the Citizens United, and make sure that Congress and the Senate pass real campaign finance reform.
Exposethefrauds
(531 posts)Come up with a half assed proposed amendment
Damn shame the Democratic Party is devoid of any real leadership
Ikonoklast
(23,973 posts)Killing campaign finance limits and soft money was just recently ruled upon, and blaming Democrats is your solution.
FUD.
Uncle Joe
(58,352 posts)Thanks for the thread, DonViejo.
Brigid
(17,621 posts)And we're the collateral damage.
daschess1987
(192 posts)We cannot under any circumstances surrender his seat. GOT-mother fucking-V!
olddad56
(5,732 posts)woo me with science
(32,139 posts)Prove you are serious and go for public financing. Prove it.
Spitfire of ATJ
(32,723 posts)....judging from small donations that would give Republicans more money than they deserve.
Tell ya what.
Don't make it a "both sides" thing.
Ban ALL political contributions and give ALL sides and equal amount. That meant the Social Dems, the Green Party, Peace and Freedom, Libertarian, Constitution,....ALL of them.
Imagine the chaos if Dems and Republicans looked on as their base rallied behind someone they liked more.
Oh,...no need. We see that now with the Tea Party.
vkkv
(3,384 posts)WE ARE ALREADY PAYING FOR ELECTIONS ANYWAY with the HIGH COSTS of insurance, education, prisons, crime, pharmaceuticals, energy, food (prices could sky-rocket with thanks to Mansanto) and even war. Much of the money you spend goods goes into the pockets of a politician who may vote on legislation that is bad for you or worse - for the entire country.
byronius
(7,394 posts)When corporations are required to bribe politicians to stay in business, inefficiencies are created that damage every sector. Instead of devoting man-hours to developing new tech or building new infrastructure, we're subsidizing bribery and corporate skullduggery, making it our primary product.
Ultimately, a recipe for collapse.
JudyM
(29,233 posts)Response to DonViejo (Original post)
blkmusclmachine This message was self-deleted by its author.