The Aug. 13 cover of Time magazine is dramatic. But is it true? Can the White House be bought for $2.5 billion? Can billionaires pumping money into super PACS—sometime under the cover of anonymity—buy enough advertising to sway elections? See how Joan and Irwin Jacobs stack up, for example. Both GOP and Democratic donors use 501(c)4 groups to spend unlimited amounts and avoid being publicly revealed. Should the public be concerned?
Edititor’s note: An earlier version of this poll carried a headline that incorrectly reported the Jacobses’ donations as $2.18 billion.
it's just that, in the wake of the supreme court's idiotic decision in the citizens united case, it's never been more blatant than it is now.. and it's only going to get worse.. the only saving grace for us is that we'll be spared much of the attack commercials here in californis.. at least in the presidential race.. there's no need to contest it here..california will be overwhelmingly for obama and the democrats..romney needn't even bother to campaign much here..not that he would anyway..it'd just be wasted money he'll need elsewhere.. doug
The Tea Party scares me, because if it were to gain power it would diminish the power of government while doing nothing to reduce the power of money.
Sadly, the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision in 2010, has led to massive donations by outside spending groups, many of which are not required to disclose their donors. These Super PACs which can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money, have spent more than $165 million as of July 30. The pro-Romney "Restore Our Future" PAC, the largest of all, has spent about $55 million as of July 30. I believe by the time we are done with this election the average citizen will be shocked at how elections are being bought outright. Even as the total dollar amounts jockey for top bid, the Romney campaign is funded mostly by Large contributions by fewer people and the Obama campaign is being funded by smaller donations, but by a higher amount of individuals. I worry more about the large individual donations. These individuals and Super-PACS are going to expect something in return for these donations, and it's not favors where the average citizen benefits. It's time for congress to create legislation that overturns the Citizens United decision.
Not that I agree with either being able to contribute that much. IT always comes with strings attached
thanks for restoring my confidence:)
I think you would be surprised to know that Super PACS are outspending Unions 15 to 1 in the upcoming elections in order to to silence the unions voice giving even more power to the top 10%. Whether I agree or not on some union issues, we should not forget that they are the middle class working people, not these "all powerful" wealthy people in which they are being portrayed. That message is being encouraged/supported by the wealthy who see unions as standing in their way of complete control. IF unions were that powerful then our police, firefighters, and teachers, would be fully funded instead of seeing these horrible cuts to public safety and schools.
Cuts need to be done, firefighters shouldn't be paid over $100k ... teachers get paid well, public sector workers shouldn't be compensated better than the taxpayers that support them .. they should be compensated the same way the private sector is .. We're broke, there is no more money, California cities are going bankrupt, soon, more and more will start falling like dominos .. The state is horribly mismanaged and corrupt .. it is criminal that the governor takes $388M out of highway funds to pay the debt service, annually, on this so called bullet train ..
I hope that one of these days the lower income people on the right will figure out that the rich could care less about them or their families and are only in it for the cash. If Good hearted people on the right would stop allowing themselves to be manipulated and tricked into voting against their own best interests this nation could actually start getting things done.
Thanks for adding sanity to the Patch. It sometimes seems most of the posters on this site have lost their moral turpitude. I really don’t know what it will take for the populous to understand what the repercussions will be if we don‘t band together to rid our politics of the far right. Moderation and caring for the less fortunate has always been the American Way. Willingness to support our country and the Government that allowed us all to succeed is what made us great, and until we ALL decide to participate rather than disparage the elected officials in power, we will continue to loose respect as a nation.
Do you think it's something that Obama would do? Would Romney be incapable of doing it?
What do think will happen to speculative activity. Will it become more responsible? What will happen to job security? What will happen to wealth distribution? It's so easy to get into a rage about government, and attempt to destroy it. But what about the consequences? When I think about the Tea Party, I am reminded of those members who screamed with rage at the government, demanding that they keep their hands off social security and medicare.
Meanwhile, China's state controlled/capitalistic economy is the fastest growing in the world. I'm not saying that we should become China b/c us westerners aren't ready to sanction that much state control but we need a balance. Just something to think about.
http://www.independentsentinel.com/2012/08/obama-is-winning-the-moron-vote/