Please join Barb Adams and John J. Higgins as they discuss Practical Solutions for America on how to end “legalized bribery” in America this Saturday, January 31, at 11pm Eastern and 8pm Pacific on www.radioamerikanow.com.
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CALL 800-259-5791 to Join the Discussion or go to our Facebook Page, Practical Solutions for America, to comment!
OPEN DISCUSSION with John J. Higgins and Barb Adams – Legalized Bribery in America: How Much “Free Speech” Can $900 Million Buy?
On Monday, billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch announced they plan on spending nearly $900 million of their own money to help elect conservative candidates to Congress, state legislatures around the country, and to the presidency. According to the New York Times, this amount is “…an unparalleled effort by coordinated outside groups to shape a presidential election that is already on track to be the most expensive in history. The spending goal, revealed Monday at the Kochs’ annual winter donor retreat near Palm Springs, California, would allow their political organization to operate at the same financial scale as the Democratic and Republican Parties,” reflecting the continued loosening of campaign finance restrictions seen in recent years post Citizens United v. FEC.
Thanks to the Supreme Court’s decisions in Citizens United, we now have an institutionalized system whereby politicians can receive money legally from special interest groups and individuals with staggering results. During the 2012 election cycle, more than $1 billion in outside money was contributed by super PACS, corporations, nonprofits, and individuals (many whose identities were never disclosed). And when individuals and corporations (many of which are large multinational corporations) put their money into politics or politicians, it’s considered an investment and a “return” is expected.
While history is replete with examples of the evils of money in politics, history also records that money in politics is also cyclical. The response to the historic campaign finance abuses during Nixon’s era resulted in landmark campaign finance reform legislation.
We are at a crossroads in America. With all the monies attempting to buy and corrupt our system, there also exists the opportunity to make major changes to our campaign finance process. But we must act, and this is the challenge! Nothing in a democracy has the potential to change the status quo as an informed voter. It’s time to restore sanity to our beleaguered country and political system, and that begins with ending the legalized bribery that is running rampant and destroying our great nation.
Please join Barb Adams and John J. Higgins as they discuss Practical Solutions for America on how to end “legalized bribery” in America this Saturday, January 31, at 11pm Eastern and 8pm Pacific.
CALL 800-259-5791 TO JOIN THE DISCUSSION!
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Photo: stevendepolo / flickr