Money has always been a factor in American politics, the dirty secret everyone understood but no one liked to talk about. It takes money to get elected, it is a necessary (if not sufficient) condition for power, it still matters more often than not, and its been mattering much more lately. Keep in mind, the Conservative attack on public service employee unions has not been just the natural business antipathy to Labor, its been because those unions were a major source of campaign contributions for Democrats.
In spite of some hilarious attempts, it has never been successfully argued that campaign contributions are not a cynical means of controlling or coercing public policy. But in the past, it wasn't the sort of thing people liked to talk about.
Today, it is different. Campaign funding isn't just something political professionals talk about in whispers. It is now proudly proclaimed, shouted from the roof tops. Raising money is not just a secret necessary evil, it is part of the campaign boasts of candidates, repeated by the press as evidence of their viability and even of their public acceptance and appeal. Campaign contributions are no longer seen as a means of buying elections, they are now a sign of the popularity and vigor of a candidate. Politicians and parties used to not like to talk about their donors. Now they are proud of them.
This change was subtle, but it was fast. No one is ashamed any more of getting a big cash contribution, or of giving one.
Current Events » in reply to It can be overwhelming
A minor oligarchic addendum.
The whole thread (45 posts)
- Terrorist attack in Oregon...
- In taking over a bird sanctuary...
- Colbert's take:
- "Why aren’t we calling the Oregon occupiers ‘terrorists?’"
- Navy SEALS know how to handle pirates
- That's just not smart.
- Bet you can't say "white right wing terrorists" three times real fast.
- Time to call in a drone strike.