American economic policies over the last 40 years “strongly reflect the preferences of the most affluent, but bear virtually no relationship to the preferences of poor or middle-income Americans.”
“The amounts are unprecedented and provide an extraordinary advantage to the very rich,” he said. “When you are dealing with huge amounts of money — and when there are no laws to contain them — they overwhelm the process in a way that small sums can’t.”
In 2016, candidates running for federal office spent a record $6.4 billion on their campaigns, while lobbyists spent $3.15 billion to influence the government in Washington. Both sums are twice that of 2000 levels.
In many European countries, strict limits are placed on campaign spending or contributions, campaigns are kept short and paid political advertising on television is restricted or outright banned.
Today, commentators in Europe often describe the American way as “legalized corruption.”
“Huge amounts of money are not being given for charitable purposes, but to obtain benefits.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/20/...ight-region&WT.nav=opinion-c-col-right-region
“The amounts are unprecedented and provide an extraordinary advantage to the very rich,” he said. “When you are dealing with huge amounts of money — and when there are no laws to contain them — they overwhelm the process in a way that small sums can’t.”
In 2016, candidates running for federal office spent a record $6.4 billion on their campaigns, while lobbyists spent $3.15 billion to influence the government in Washington. Both sums are twice that of 2000 levels.
In many European countries, strict limits are placed on campaign spending or contributions, campaigns are kept short and paid political advertising on television is restricted or outright banned.
Today, commentators in Europe often describe the American way as “legalized corruption.”
“Huge amounts of money are not being given for charitable purposes, but to obtain benefits.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/20/...ight-region&WT.nav=opinion-c-col-right-region
