Representative Democracy, Heal Thyself

http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/13624/representative_democracy_heal_thyself

The demand to “get money out of politics” was a rallying cry for the Occupy movement, and it’s one that, thanks to the Citizens United Supreme Court ruling, resonates deeply with much of the public. Citizens United opened the door for unlimited corporate spending in elections and is largely responsible for the Wild West of campaign finance in which we find ourselves this election season. But is “money in politics” the problem, or is it shorthand for record levels of inequality that will inevitably distort our political process?

In These Times spoke to Sarah Leonard of Dissent magazine, Doug Henwood of Left Business Observer, and Lisa Graves of the Center for Media and Democracy about progressive electoral strategies and what it would take to build a popular movement around something as wonky as campaign finance reform.

How is Citizens United impacting this year’s elections. And exactly how different is this from what we’ve seen in previous years?


Lisa: There’s no doubt that before Citizens United there were problems with things like Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, where an outside group runs a character assassination campaign that benefits a particular candidate, and that candidate can distance himself or herself from those dirty politics and mudslinging. But now we have that on steroids. This is going to not only be the most expensive election in U.S. history, it will be the most expensive election in world history.


Doug: Look, money has been a big force in American politics for more than a century. This emphasis on the role of money in politics is, I think, a sideshow, because rich people can spend money as individuals; they don’t need to spend it as corporations. Only political agitation and mobilization can counter the effect of money.