This has nothing to do with politics or ideology or philosophy. We need to get money out of politics.

As long as the rich can buy elections, the rich will rule. And those representing the poor will have no choice but to organize their own institutions to raise money to counteract the rich. But being poor, and being leaderless, they start off at an enormous disadvantage.

Yeah, Yeah, I know it is still possible (sometimes) for the poorer candidate to succeed, but it is getting harder and harder as the machinery for transforming dollars to votes becomes more effective and attracts more and more talent. And I don't buy the argument that
"money and advertising can't buy elections, because no one puts a gun to your head in the voting booth and makes you vote for them." If that were true, billions wouldn't be raised for campaign funding, and politicians wouldn't spend all their time fund raising. The very fact that it happens, and that it gets worse, is all the evidence you need that it works. No one spends millions of dollars unless they expect to get something in return.

Other countries, like Great Britain and other democracies, don't have this problem, and their campaigns are short and cheap. No, I don't buy the lie that money is free speech. Our country is run by racketeers, and every year it gets worse.

What to do about it? Here is my program, no philosophy or ideology, just policy: corporations are not people and money is not free speech. Persuade the Supreme Court to overthrow "Citizens United" and find some other way of funding political campaigns, like anonymous contributions through a third party, or government subsidies to political campaigns or parties or candidates, or taxing the media by forcing them to carry political advertising free as a public service. It may take a Constitutional amendment, but we have no choice if we want to remain a democracy. Otherwise we are headed the way as the Roman Republic--bread and circuses.

But as long as politicians can rely on contributions from wealthy individuals or companies or unions or trade associations or other special interests, and as long as the media profits from campaign advertising, it ain't gonna happen, and you know those who currently benefit most from the system are going to do whatever it takes and spend whatever they have to to keep it from happening.