8 Things You Can Do to Help Get Money Out of Politics

[RiverLover]

8 Things You Can Do to Help Get Money Out of Politics
11/21/14

In the wake of our most expensive midterm elections ever, decided with the lowest turnout in over 70 years, it’s no wonder that a majority of Americans are fed up with the way big money is distorting our politics.

In the battle for the Senate, 42 extremely wealthy donors accounted for nearly a third of all super PAC spending. Whatever one’s political philosophy may be, the fact is: wealthy donors are now able to drown out your voice.

But if there was a silver lining in the elections’ display of plutocratic might, it’s that there’s growing awareness of how a flood of money is distorting our politics. And watchdogs at Open Secrets, The Campaign Legal Center, Common Cause, The Sunlight Foundation, Democracy 21, Public Citizen and countless other organizations have been working to turn back the tide. Here are some of the campaigns they’re working on that you can get involved in to get money out of politics.

http://billmoyers.com/2014/11/21/8-ways-get-money-politics/

Our country is no longer "for the people, by the people". We all know this. Its not a Democratic problem. Its not a Republican problem. Its an American problem.

NOTHING will change until we overcome this.

I can't copy & paste the entire article here. I wish I could. PLEASE read it and take note of the "TAKE ACTION" tips!!!

[unrepentant progress]

1. #9) Break out the pitchforks and torches again

OK, I truly hope we haven't arrived back at that stage. Some days it does feel like it though. Otherwise, everything that Bill Moyers outlines is sorely needed, except for Lawrence Lessig's idea of "money bombs." There's no way we can hope to compete on the money front, plus all the evidence indicates that gobs of money has a very mixed impact and differing impact depending of the level of the race. The way I look at it is similar to CO2 and global warming -- shoveling more money into the system only increases the overall energy level thus precipitating greater levels of chaotic behavior. You can't get money out of politics by adding more money into politics.

[cascadiance]

2. Also, bring your voice to local PCP meetings that are likely holding their own elections now...

... to get in new leadership, etc. after the election.

When those who want to lead your county's group of PCP's champion themselves as effective, experienced in, and prioritizing the fundraising process in the coming years for the party, ask the big question of how they would balance the very real need to raise money for candidates that is necessary to help win office to be heard, but at the same time look to get rid of money influence in this whole process as well. This is a tough question that maybe many aren't prepared for, and also many will have a very difficult time to arrive at a solution, but I think it is important that each local community of Democrats hears their positions in this area to help get the best leadership there moving forward to help the party itself prioritize from the ground up doing the right things for passing a constitutional amendment. The more this happens elsewhere, perhaps the more locals in your community will study their own answers to this question, and come up with good solutions to help them earn leadership positions, which will be good for us all.

There are some people that are very good at the mechanics of fundraising, and they should also be valued too, but for leadership, I'd want to hear people at least establishing that they want to also play an active role in promoting change to get rid of money influence in politics. Even if some of your own candidates benefitted from a big chunk of outside money to help you win a local election, you need to ask yourself if that money will work for you or against you in the next election. The system shouldn't continue to function this way, even if it might have helped you this time around.

I made it a priority locally here to do this just recently myself, and was thanked by a number of people afterward too.

[etherealtruth]

3. K and R, well worth reading the entire article

[GeorgeGist]

4. Infiltrate. Undermine. Disrupt.

[RiverLover]

6. Yes, that's helpful.

[RiverLover]

5. I thought this was great~"stamping money with messages like “not to be used for bribing politicians"

3) GRASSROOTS AND PUBLIC FINANCING

Most of the organizations we surveyed support some combination of grassroots contributions and public financing of elections. Common Cause highlights the Fair Elections Now Act, which would give candidates the option of public financing if they raise a large number of small contributions from their local communities.

Public Citizen sees possibility in a bill called the Grassroots Democracy Act, first introduced in 2012 by Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD), which would match grassroots contributions of $100 or less with public funds. Shortly after Sarbanes defeated a Republican challenger earlier this month, he told reporters that he will reintroduce the bill in 2015.

And if you’re looking to do something fun and creative, check out Ben (of Ben & Jerry’s) Cohen’s StampStampede.org website. Their campaign involves stamping money with clever messages like “not to be used for bribing politicians.” They also have a Tumblr where you can upload pictures of money that you come across that’s been stamped. They’ve already sold over 11,000 stamp kits (at cost) and given out over 5,000.

[appalachiablue]

10. Using stampstampede money stamps for 2 yrs., also a very good stamp I got from

movetoamend.org. Hope stamping helps raise awareness of Corporations United & Oligarchs United. It's a huge issue to overcome, like RW SCOTUS.

[RiverLover]

14. Thanks! I had no idea where to get them.

Might start using money again instead of my debit card.

[appalachiablue]

17. Go for it. Read stampede's website about where to stamp on bills- Not on the seal watermark.

You'll get the hang of it, it's fun. Love Bill Moyers, what a gift. Think I heard him say he's finally leaving in Jan. after staying on 3 more years when people asked.

RE DC LOBBYISTS:
1972-1981, Number of companies with Washington lobbying offices goes from 175 to 2,445.
From Hedrick Smith "Who Stole the American Dream?" 2012, reprinted in 'YES!" Magazine, Fall 2014.

The increase in lobbyists who located to DC, K Street is directly the result of the 1971 THE POWELL MEMO. Corp. lawyer Lewis Powell's manifesto to the right was a call to arms for (threatened) businesses to get involved in politics (DC), the Media, Academia and more. And they did.

[ffr]

7. I have a fundamental problem with the concept that money buys elections

I'm not arguing it doesn't work, but therein lies the problem. Since when should money spent on advertising sway anybody? The money's not the problem, it's the weak mindset of anyone who would be swayed in a positive way by how much money a candidate has.

A constitutional amendment can't change that. It has to come from within the mindset of the voters first, to be better informed, tune out all the media noise, billboard and yard signs, and simply vote based on information.

[RiverLover]

9. That aside, are you OK with Lobbyists writing legislation then?

These people get elected by BSing their way through their campaigns, telling us what we want to hear, and then they not only do what their corporate sponsors want them to do, they let their corporate sponsors WRITE THE LAWS that they want.

It makes us all chumps.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/11/11/243973620/when-lobbyists-literally-write-the-bill

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/05/16/1299904/-Halliburton-Kochs-Helped-Write-North-Carolina-Fracking-Law

http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/05/23/banks-lobbyists-help-in-drafting-financial-bills/?_r=0

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2010/10/googles-ceo-the-laws-are-written-by-lobbyists/63908/

[Qutzupalotl]

8. K&R

[Jenoch]

11. We shouldn't forget that the first presidential

candidate who chose not to accept matching federal campaign financing and thus a limitation on how much can be raised and spent on the general election, was then presidential candidate Barack Obama in 2008.

[RiverLover]

13. Not so. He reneged on that promise too.

Sen. Barack Obama reversed his pledge to seek public financing in the general election yesterday
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/19/AR2008061900914.html


Obama to Break Promise, Opt Out of Public Financing for General Election
Jun 19, 2008 8:58am
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2008/06/obama-to-break/


We should have known that was a sign of things to come...

[Jenoch]

15. Reread my post.

I said the same thing you did, but without links and fewer details.

I think candidate Obama raised and spent something like $750 million.

I wish the presidential candidates were limited to $35million like they used to be.

[RiverLover]

16. Yikes sorry, Jenoch!!! ~nt

[Jenoch]

19. No worries.

I think the massive amounts of money spent on political elections is obscene.

[RiverLover]

20. Obscene. That is a good word for it. Makes me ill.

We are a Plutocracy.

[Jenoch]

21. I watched 60 Minutes all the way through for

the first time in recent memory. There was a story about how infrastucture such as bridges are in terrible shape and are not being replaced and/or repaired. It seems the federal gas tax has not been increased since 1993. I'm not a fan of tax increases, but I think it is imperative that these old bridges be repaired or replaced.

I remember when the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis collapsed in 2007. I was listening to a sportstalk radio station and they broke the story. I check the other radio stations, and they were beat by several minutes, as were the local television news outlets.

[RiverLover]

22. Can't believe you mentioned that bridge collapse.

I'm a territory sales rep, so I drive ALOT. Ever since then, learning how poorly we maintain bridges & overpasses, I get a bit edgy now when stuck on an overpass, or under one.

We can spend billion$ in the blink of an eye in the Middle East, but we can't do things like maintain bridges or help dying cities like Detroit...the list is really endless.

[Jenoch]

24. I used to have an office in downtown Minneapolis and

I drove on that bridge twice a day for many years. My SIL drove on that bridge 20 minutes before it went down.

The funny thing is, I was on the replacement bridge on Friday night with my father. We were stuck in traffic and there were snow plows on the bridge. My dad says, "I hope this bridge can handle the weight of the ice, snow, and traffic".

"Thanks, dad."

[libodem]

12. Keep this ahole out of it

http://ericcantorsbitchface.tumblr.com/

[baldguy]

18. #1: Vote for Democrats.

[bhikkhu]

23. Stop watching TV would be one way

That's where much of the money goes, and its mostly spent on garbage character assassination and propaganda. Because people wathc it, and its designed to work on you if you watch it. If you're not watching it doesn't work.