by Jim G.
Member since:
July 13, 2009

How Money Is Destroying Our Democracy.

June 18, 2012 07:06 PM UTC (Updated: June 18, 2012 07:08 PM UTC)
views: 0 | 8 people recommend this | comments: 22

A must-see Bill Moyerrs video interview on how money is destroying our very democracy, thanks to the SCOTUS Citizens United decision:

Bill Moyers | Thomas Frank on Money in Politics
Bill Moyers, Moyers & Co.: "When it comes to the vast, corrupting influence of money in politics, historian Thomas Frank has sounded the alarm loudly and often. In 'It's a Rich Man's World,' one of his recent essays for Harper's Magazine, Frank writes, 'Over the course of the past few decades, the power of concentrated money has subverted professions, destroyed small investors, wrecked the regulatory state, corrupted legislators en masse, and repeatedly put the economy through the wringer. Now it has come for our democracy itself.'"
Watch the Video and Read the Transcript

Comments: 22

Ken S. Jun 18, 2012, 7:18pm UTC
It is rather the fact that Washington DC has increasingly been made a "Constitution-free" zone that opens the door for money to come in. A limited federal government that treats citizens the same (ie doesn't pick winners and losers), respects the rule-of-law, and that leaves much more to the states would by definition be less of a magnet for monied influences.
Jim G. Jun 18, 2012, 8:32pm UTC
States rights are too often used as a tool in an attempt to curcumvent federal law as regards such subjects as racism & women's rights, Ken.
Larry M. Jun 18, 2012, 8:59pm UTC
It isn't just Washington. It's every state and every city as well.
Ken S. Jun 18, 2012, 9:32pm UTC
But it's the inappropriate concentration of power in Washington (ie the behemoth federal government) that invites evermore special interest spending to what is in effect a single point of influence & largess. It is much more inefficient to lobby 50 state legislatures, or innumerable local school boards, for example.
If states err, the impact is limited to only their population, citizens can oppose it in multiple ways including with their feet (as is seen in the response to inordinately high income tax rates in New York). Healthy respect for States rights is key to the maintenance of individual liberties for the most people possible. Is it perfect?, no - only better, much better, than anything else. And very much better than a central government with all the power.
Gilbert S. Jun 19, 2012, 4:21am UTC
Undoubtedly corruption is far easier in a centralized organization but it enhances the power of selected States and therefore introduces discrimination.
Ken S. Jun 20, 2012, 8:31am UTC
Jim/Gilbert,
Multiple remedies exist for the occasional small usurpations of liberty committed by a school district, a city, a county, or even a state. No such effective constraints exist for reigning in a behemoth central government and it is far more likely to pursue anti-freedom policies and far horrifying in it's related accomplishments than it's smaller government counterparts. See WW2 internment camps, federal support for eugenics programs (which were generally implemented at the state level) , US abortion impacts & statistics, USSR and China statist government policies, etc. etc.

An understanding of federalism allows the wisdom of governing decisions being made closer to the people is a wiser and more controllable choice than the one-size-fits-all "Washington knows best" approach favored by todays' statist left. Read the founders. Read history.
Debbie W. Jun 18, 2012, 7:44pm UTC
I think very highly of Bill Moyers and follow his interviews. I've heard him on this subject and agree with what he and the others in this interview say. He who has the most superPACs will win this election. And, sadly, so sadly, I don't think it will be the incumbent (though I am not happy w/ him, either!).
Jim G. Jun 18, 2012, 8:37pm UTC
I have been critical of some of Obama's decisions Debbie, but the election of Romney would be a disaster. I'm very happy that Moyers is back on PBS.


Debbie W. Jun 18, 2012, 9:34pm UTC
Jim, I agree with you about Romney. I am just so disappointed in Obama. I have never felt so upset about an election before.
Jim G. Jun 18, 2012, 11:32pm UTC
Once again, it's a matter of choosing the lesser of two evils.....
Susan G. Jun 18, 2012, 8:00pm UTC
We did the best when we had a strong Federal government which enforced it's regulations to keep the excesses of the banks, Wall Street, and large corporations in check. It took years of chipping away at the government to get to where we are today and I fear we've exceeded the tipping point. The monster is out and there's no putting him back. Wingers will be happy about that up until the point where it bites them also. Then they'll feel betrayed as they starve in the streets the same as the rest of us. They haven't yet learned that the elite doesn't give a GRA about any of them. Lickspittles are always held in contempt.
Jim G. Jun 18, 2012, 8:36pm UTC
The problem is that those misinformed right wingnuts can drag us down with them, Susan.
Susan G. Jun 18, 2012, 9:01pm UTC
Oh they absolutely will. They want to stomp us down into the mud and gunk. They hate our liberal guts and will glory at seeing us starving and homeless without a prayer of getting a job. They're just too damn stupid to see that where we go, they also will go. The elite sure aren't going to reward them. It's like expecting Romney to display compassion - ain't happenin'.
Jim G. Jun 18, 2012, 11:36pm UTC
Yeah. Compassion is not in his dictoinary.
Kathy W. Jun 18, 2012, 8:14pm UTC
Every time the rethugs vote down, filibuster, or just plain block legislation that will create jobs--the economy suffers. You don't pull an economy out of the brackish backwaters of poor econimics (The Bush Financial Crash of 2008-9) by austerity measures, cutting jobs, or denying minimum wage increases. These are things that stimulate the economy: Jobs, jobs and more jobs. Min wage increases.

The longer I see the rethugs keeping the economy in it's fail zone; the more I am certain they would harm the nation in order to save their totally screwed up majority, or to put Myth Ro-Money in office. He IS the 1%---and he is NOT a jobs creator.

If he gets in office, and the rethugs maintain majority in either the house or the senate, ya'all best have a big garden, keep chickens, and not want to drive anywhere. IF you can keep your house...
Jim G. Jun 18, 2012, 8:43pm UTC
What is needed is Keynesian economic policy by gov't spending money in the short term to stimulate the economy & create jobs, Wilka. YTe GOP has abandoned Keynes in favor of austerity & failed "Trickle-Down" economics. The Europeans are making the same mistake that we have with their austerity programs. The GOP would rather bring down our economy than have Obama re-elected.
Bert B. Jun 19, 2012, 1:21am UTC
One man, one vote!
Does anybody think that corporate persons have the same influence on our government as I do? They give millions. I give fifty bucks.
Who do ya think the politicians listen to?
Citizens United, if allowed to stand, will destroy our democracy.
We better get busy and tear down that piece of S**"T!
And then enact some REAL campaign finance reform.
Jim G. Jun 19, 2012, 6:01am UTC
Don't hold your breath until it happens, Bert. (Sigh...)
Bert B. Jun 19, 2012, 1:15pm UTC
I know. I try not to think about it too much. It's depressing.

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