Well the number one thing we need to do to get this country back on track is to get money out of politics. Unfortunately, the Citizens United case that was decided by the supreme court did exactly the opposite. There is some backlash and local and even state governments are trying to pass laws to curb the influence of money in politics, but until we make major changes (perhaps a constitutional amendment saying corporations are not people or that money does not equal free speech) we are in serious trouble of losing our democracy.
Look at the Super Pacs. Karl Rove with his Crossroads GPS, is said to have as much as half a billion dollars at his disposal to use to influence elections. These groups can target anyone or any law they want. Say a congress person decided to vote to take actions to reduce fossil fuel usage. The fossil fuel industry can spend unlimited money to defeat that person in an election. No wonder our politicians are affraid to talk about climate change and instead argue over who likes fossil fuels more!
And with many states, like California, turning to propositions to pass laws, corporations and the extremely wealthy can skip influencing politicians through lobbying and go straight to the voters. 11 million dollars was recently donated from we don't know who in Arizona, to defeat Governor Brown's prop 30 in California! This means wealthy individuals who will not even be effected, are putting funding for California Public schools in danger! Some of this $11 million is also going to pass prop 32, which is the corporate backed proposition to curb the influence of Unions in elections (which are the only real counter balance to corporate spending).
The city of Richmond, California, has a measure to put a 1 penny per ounce tax on sugary drinks. This money will go to the community to support programs that help youth stay healthy. The soda industry has poured over $2 million dollars into the campaign to defeat the measure. A boon for local media! In California we have individuals who are spending tens of millions of dollars of their own money to influence elections. On national level there are individuals spending hundreds of millions of dollars to influence elections.
Of course with hundreds of billions of dollars being spent nation wide on political advertizing, don't expect the corporate media to make this an issue. They are the ones profiting from it!
As far as this election is concerned, the supreme court will be in play during the next four years. The conservative judges are the ones who support unlimited money to infuence elections. For this reason alone, everyone needs to get out the vote for Obama!
Look at the Super Pacs. Karl Rove with his Crossroads GPS, is said to have as much as half a billion dollars at his disposal to use to influence elections. These groups can target anyone or any law they want. Say a congress person decided to vote to take actions to reduce fossil fuel usage. The fossil fuel industry can spend unlimited money to defeat that person in an election. No wonder our politicians are affraid to talk about climate change and instead argue over who likes fossil fuels more!
And with many states, like California, turning to propositions to pass laws, corporations and the extremely wealthy can skip influencing politicians through lobbying and go straight to the voters. 11 million dollars was recently donated from we don't know who in Arizona, to defeat Governor Brown's prop 30 in California! This means wealthy individuals who will not even be effected, are putting funding for California Public schools in danger! Some of this $11 million is also going to pass prop 32, which is the corporate backed proposition to curb the influence of Unions in elections (which are the only real counter balance to corporate spending).
The city of Richmond, California, has a measure to put a 1 penny per ounce tax on sugary drinks. This money will go to the community to support programs that help youth stay healthy. The soda industry has poured over $2 million dollars into the campaign to defeat the measure. A boon for local media! In California we have individuals who are spending tens of millions of dollars of their own money to influence elections. On national level there are individuals spending hundreds of millions of dollars to influence elections.
Of course with hundreds of billions of dollars being spent nation wide on political advertizing, don't expect the corporate media to make this an issue. They are the ones profiting from it!
As far as this election is concerned, the supreme court will be in play during the next four years. The conservative judges are the ones who support unlimited money to infuence elections. For this reason alone, everyone needs to get out the vote for Obama!
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