from Robert Reich
The vast wealth that has accumulated at the top of the economy is not itself the problem. The problem is that political power tends to rise to where the money is. America isnt yet an oligarchy, but thats where the Kochs and a few other billionaires are taking us. When billionaires supplant political parties, candidates are beholden directly to the billionaires. And if and when those candidates win election, the billionaires will be completely in charge.
At this very moment, casino magnate Sheldon Adelson (worth an estimated $37.9 billion) is privately interviewing potential Republican candidates, in whats being called the Sheldon Primary. The Sheldon Primary is an important primary for any Republican running for president, says Ari Fleischer, George W. Bushs former press secretary. Anybody running for the Republican nomination would want to have Sheldon at his side. Adelson spent $100 million on the 2012 election but denies hes doing it for personal gain. He just wants the federal government to ban online gambling (and judging from legislation now being pushed on Capitol Hill, his investment seems to be paying off).
It's more urgent than ever that we reverse "Citizen's United" (if by Constitutional amendment if necessary), establish strict campaign finance and disclosure laws, and stop the wholesale takeover of America by the new billionaire political bosses. I chair the citizen's group Common Cause, that's trying to do all this (website: http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=8281551
snappyturtle
(14,656 posts)"Inequality for All". I found a free online link to watch the full version:
http://viooz.co/movies/23488-inequality-for-all-2013.html
Very well done imho.
Jefferson23
(30,099 posts)the next POTUS may hammer in the last nail.
'If Nobody Else Runs To Get Big $$$ Out Of Politics+Restore Prosperity For All -I WILL'
http://www.bluecheddar.net/?p=38550&utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=reich-says-if-nobody-runs-for-president-with-the-goals-of-broad-based-prosperity-and-big-money-out-of-politics-then-he-will
K&R for Reich.