How corporate dark money is taking power on both sides of the Atlantic

[milestogo]

by George Monbiot

It took corporate America a while to warm to Donald Trump. Some of his positions, especially on trade, horrified business leaders. Many of them favoured Ted Cruz or Scott Walker. But once Trump had secured the nomination, the big money began to recognise an unprecedented opportunity.

Trump was prepared not only to promote the cause of corporations in government, but to turn government into a kind of corporation, staffed and run by executives and lobbyists. His incoherence was not a liability, but an opening: his agenda could be shaped. And the dark money network already developed by some American corporations was perfectly positioned to shape it. Dark money is the term used in the US for the funding of organisations involved in political advocacy that are not obliged to disclose where the money comes from. Few people would see a tobacco company as a credible source on public health, or a coal company as a neutral commentator on climate change. In order to advance their political interests, such companies must pay others to speak on their behalf.

Soon after the second world war, some of America’s richest people began setting up a network of thinktanks to promote their interests. These purport to offer dispassionate opinions on public affairs. But they are more like corporate lobbyists, working on behalf of those who fund them.

We have no hope of understanding what is coming until we understand how the dark money network operates. The remarkable story of a British member of parliament provides a unique insight into this network, on both sides of the Atlantic. His name is Liam Fox. Six years ago, his political career seemed to be over when he resigned as defence secretary after being caught mixing his private and official interests. But today he is back on the front bench, and with a crucial portfolio: secretary of state for international trade.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/feb/02/corporate-dark-money-power-atlantic-lobbyists-brexit

[denverbill]

1. That has to be one of the most depressing articles I've read in a while.

Nothing in it was really news to me. It just sums up the hopelessness of the battle against the super-wealthy in an era when bribery and dark money are barely even frowned on anymore. When a President uses his power to coerce foreign governments to help his personal businesses. They own the politicians. They own the media. They will soon control the internet. The future looks very dark for the 99.999% frankly.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. I've long seen Liam Fox as a dangerous corporate puppet, and was appalled that May brought him back

to government. It wasn't as if he had a big following among potential Tory voters (which you can at least say about Boris Johnson - by twice winning the London mayoral election, he showed he had a weird general appeal), and all he stands for is "American corporations are great!".