McCutcheon, the Majority, and the Challenge of Our Time

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http://www.alternet.org/visions/mccutcheon-majority-and-challenge-our-time



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People vs. Money

The immediate effect of this ruling is to give the wealthy even more political power than they have today. That's diametrically opposed to the people's will, since the public clearly wants money out of politics. Seventy-nine percent of those polled in one study support limiting the amount of funds that political candidates can raise and spend. Seventy-one percent believe the candidate with the most money wins. And, despite the fact that neither party is advocating public financing of elections, a Gallup study shows that the idea already has the support of 50 percent of the voters (while only 44 percent oppose it).

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Policy for Sale

The long-term effects of this ruling will make it even more difficult for public opinion to influence public policy. As Chris Cillizza and others have explained, national party organizations like the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee will have significantly greater fundraising ability -- and therefore significantly much greater influence over the selection of local candidates and the kinds of campaigns they choose to run.

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As money increasingly dominates all levels of government, corporations and wealthy individuals will reap the benefits - while the rest of the public pays the price. Here are some other examples of public aspirations that are more likely to be crushed now that this ruling has been handed down:

57 percent think upper income Americans pay less than their fair share in taxes;

66 percent say the richest 2 percent should pay more in taxes;

73 percent believe that corporations pay too little in taxes and that America should eliminate corporate loopholes to stimulate the economy;

69 percent of the respondents in one poll believe that tax loopholes for corporate meals and entertainment should be eliminated;

83 percent believe that corporations should pay as much on foreign profits as they do on US profits;

73 percent of those polled in another study believe that corporations pay too little in taxes and that America should eliminate corporate loopholes to stimulate the economy;

68 percent want to eliminate the carried interest loophole that allows Wall Street hedge fund managers to pay a lower tax rate than middle-class taxpayers;

and, 79 percent want to close tax loopholes to ensure that American corporations pay as much on foreign profits as they do on profits made in the U.S.

[yeoman6987]

1. Well having all the money in the World did not help Romney

Get out and vote is the most important thing you can do for elections.