By now, it seems to be common knowledge and popularly accepted that the United States is not the democracy it once was.
Of course, people have various different opinions as to the reason for this, although most Americans are coming to agree that one of the really big problems, if not the biggest problem, would be the huge sums of money that are being pumped into the political system every election cycle - and this is especially true for the presidential races.
Presidential races have become astronomically expensive affairs these days. Of course it costs money to make a serious run for the presidency, and that was always the case. However, the numbers just went up and up starting in 2000, and they have just kept going up and up ever since.
Nowadays, the enormous sums required to be considered a serious presidential candidate are not only staggering, quite frankly, they are downright offensive. If you ever need proof that American democracy is in danger, and that government is no longer really accessible to average people, just take a look at how much these prominent candidates are raising and, more often than not, take a look at who is providing these candidates their money. If that does not convince you that elections are not designed for the betterment and interests of the American people themselves, than nothing will. Let us not lose sight of the fact that these politicians are supposed to be serving the American people, after all, and not their corporate sponsors.
Yet, we have grown used to politicians advancing agendas that really are not in the best interests of the American people, but do happen to benefit corporations with definite vested interests. After all, do you really think that we would have invaded Iraq if some people were not absolutely convinced that they would make a boat load of money there?
So, with another presidential campaign now apparently fully in swing, maybe it is time to take another look at this issue of enormous sums being relentlessly funneled into the political process yet again. In fact, the sums of money once again seem to be growing ridiculously high, on levels that would have been unthinkable just twenty years ago.
Recently, the New York Times published an expose article that explored this theme, examining the richest families that were contributing to the presidential campaign of 2016, and who were having enormous influence on the process.
It goes without saying that the candidates receiving these sums will be beholden to these elite families if and when they obtain the office that they seek.
And that is the problem in American politics today.
The Families Funding the 2016 Presidential Election By NICHOLAS CONFESSORE, SARAH COHEN and KAREN YOURISH, OCT. 10, 2015:
No comments:
Post a Comment