Cause and Effect: Why the income gap will continue to widen Quote: The Republican Party’s 2008 platform contained not a mention of campaign finance reform in its 68 pages. “We oppose any restrictions or conditions that would discourage Americans from exercising their constitutional right to enter the political fray or limit their commitment to their ideals,” it declares on page 12.
The platform calls for repeal of what remains of McCain-Feingold — mainly the ban on “soft” money contributions to parties — and either raising or abolishing donation limits.
It also opposes passage of any law that would weaken the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United decision, which did away with prohibitions against corporate or union spending on elections.
The platform specifically mentioned the Democrat-supported DISCLOSE Act, which would require independent groups to list the names of those donating more than $10,000. The bill died in the Senate this year.
The plank also calls for no regulation of political speech on the Internet.
Republican National Committee member James Bopp Jr. said, “I’m just glad we can reflect what the grass-roots of the party believe. They support the First Amendment and they support no campaign finance restrictions.”
Actually, the average person sympathizes with the idea that wealthy people should not be able to buy votes. When Bopp says “grass roots” he’s talking about the wealthy supporters of the Tea/Republican party. For Bopp and the Tea/Republicans, grass is green and money is green, and the root of political money is the upper 1% income earners.
Like other portions of the platform, the campaign finance plank reflects the party’s steepening conservative tilt. In 1992, the GOP called for elimination of corporate and union political action committees. Four years later, it endorsed “full and immediate disclosure of all contributions” and a crackdown on soft money.
That was then, and this is now. Today’s Tea/Republicans are a completely different breed from the Republican party you may have favored ten years ago.
By 2004, the conservative trend emerged. The party firmly established campaign funding as a First Amendment issue with no government restrictions on individual political expression.
Though the Republicans and the right wing tell you money doesn’t buy elections, you know better. Anyway, you’ve seen the cause; now view the effect:
Cause and Effect: Why the income gap will continue to widen
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Quote: In summary: The Big Lie, that the federal deficit and debt should be reduced, is the 1%’s method for widening the gap. As part of the plan, the 1% want to be allowed unlimited spending to disseminate the Big Lie. Thus, the right-wing Supreme Court’s decision in the Citizens United case.
We’re in a downward helix. As the 1% and the right wing become more powerful, they grow more and more able to control the levers of power: Congress, the Supreme Court and the media, who then convince the populace to accept an ever widening gap.
Given the Presidency, there will be no limit to the power of the wealthy over America.
Who are you, and what’s your vote?