Comments on: $45 billion: a sour-tasting decade of out-of-control political spending http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2009/12/21/45-billion-a-sour-tasting-decade-of-out-of-control-political-spending/ Think. It ain't illegal yet... Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:50:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Scholars and Rogues » The root of all evil will rule mid-term elections http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2009/12/21/45-billion-a-sour-tasting-decade-of-out-of-control-political-spending/comment-page-1/#comment-84245 Scholars and Rogues » The root of all evil will rule mid-term elections Mon, 04 Oct 2010 15:08:19 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=13743#comment-84245 [...] commissions, CRP, and the National Institute for Money in State Politics, I determined that $45 billion had been spent on political giving and influence peddling over that 10 years. That’s all the [...] [...] commissions, CRP, and the National Institute for Money in State Politics, I determined that $45 billion had been spent on political giving and influence peddling over that 10 years. That’s all the [...]

]]> By: The root of all evil will rule mid-term elections « deadlines amuse me http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2009/12/21/45-billion-a-sour-tasting-decade-of-out-of-control-political-spending/comment-page-1/#comment-84244 The root of all evil will rule mid-term elections « deadlines amuse me Mon, 04 Oct 2010 15:03:48 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=13743#comment-84244 [...] commissions, CRP, and the National Institute for Money in State Politics, I determined that $45 billion had been spent on political giving and influence peddling over that 10 years. That’s all the [...] [...] commissions, CRP, and the National Institute for Money in State Politics, I determined that $45 billion had been spent on political giving and influence peddling over that 10 years. That’s all the [...]

]]> By: Scholars and Rogues » They’re winning. We’re losing. Why? http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2009/12/21/45-billion-a-sour-tasting-decade-of-out-of-control-political-spending/comment-page-1/#comment-76460 Scholars and Rogues » They’re winning. We’re losing. Why? Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:03:44 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=13743#comment-76460 [...] of it. They spend it without reservation in the pursuit of winning. They know that well less than 1 percent of American adults contribute to political candidates. They can outspend those who oppose the meme — and did so, spending $23 [...] [...] of it. They spend it without reservation in the pursuit of winning. They know that well less than 1 percent of American adults contribute to political candidates. They can outspend those who oppose the meme — and did so, spending $23 [...]

]]> By: $45 billion: a sour-tasting decade of out-of-control political spending | World of Ulysses http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2009/12/21/45-billion-a-sour-tasting-decade-of-out-of-control-political-spending/comment-page-1/#comment-76026 $45 billion: a sour-tasting decade of out-of-control political spending | World of Ulysses Thu, 31 Dec 2009 22:11:03 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=13743#comment-76026 [...] Add up every nickel and dime recorded by the Federal Election Commission and state election commissions in this decade now ending. Result: Americans have given more than $24.2 billion in campaign contributions to federal and state incumbents and challengers. full story [...] [...] Add up every nickel and dime recorded by the Federal Election Commission and state election commissions in this decade now ending. Result: Americans have given more than $24.2 billion in campaign contributions to federal and state incumbents and challengers. full story [...]

]]> By: Saving Big Banks While Killing Unions « Culture of Life News http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2009/12/21/45-billion-a-sour-tasting-decade-of-out-of-control-political-spending/comment-page-1/#comment-75775 Saving Big Banks While Killing Unions « Culture of Life News Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:36:04 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=13743#comment-75775 [...] Alas, they are all very much around and quite busy screwing up any attempt at cleaning up the mess by changing the rules so the biggest private bankers function more like credit unions.  When our politicians saved the reckless big bankers, this was due to the simple fact that Congress and the Presidents are owned lock, stock and barrel by powerful money interests:  Scholars and Rogues » $45 billion: a sour-tasting decade of out-of-control political spending [...] [...] Alas, they are all very much around and quite busy screwing up any attempt at cleaning up the mess by changing the rules so the biggest private bankers function more like credit unions.  When our politicians saved the reckless big bankers, this was due to the simple fact that Congress and the Presidents are owned lock, stock and barrel by powerful money interests:  Scholars and Rogues » $45 billion: a sour-tasting decade of out-of-control political spending [...]

]]> By: rickpetes http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2009/12/21/45-billion-a-sour-tasting-decade-of-out-of-control-political-spending/comment-page-1/#comment-75762 rickpetes Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:35:43 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=13743#comment-75762 Your article comes across as if you believe we live in a democratic republic. Why would you think that? Your article comes across as if you believe we live in a democratic republic. Why would you think that?

]]> By: Dr. Denny http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2009/12/21/45-billion-a-sour-tasting-decade-of-out-of-control-political-spending/comment-page-1/#comment-75756 Dr. Denny Mon, 21 Dec 2009 21:08:53 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=13743#comment-75756 Anderson: Where'd you work? I was at the The Recorder in Greenfield, Mass., during the '70s and '80s. Anderson: Where’d you work? I was at the The Recorder in Greenfield, Mass., during the ’70s and ’80s.

]]> By: Anderson http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2009/12/21/45-billion-a-sour-tasting-decade-of-out-of-control-political-spending/comment-page-1/#comment-75751 Anderson Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:20:15 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=13743#comment-75751 Glad you pointed out the work by Dave Levinthal. I worked with him when he was a reporter in New England and he's one of the best in the business. Glad you pointed out the work by Dave Levinthal. I worked with him when he was a reporter in New England and he’s one of the best in the business.

]]> By: WJM http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2009/12/21/45-billion-a-sour-tasting-decade-of-out-of-control-political-spending/comment-page-1/#comment-75747 WJM Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:33:05 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=13743#comment-75747 All the more reason to have a system that is totally funded by public money. it is absolutely necessary to remove private money from ALL elections. Without that, we will never see an improvement in OUR situation, and will be the United Corporate States within a few years. In such a system, jail time MUST be imposed on BOTH the giver and the receiver of private funds. No private money, even if it's your own or your family's. A certain amount should be afforded, along with FREE air time from both radio AND TV (we GIVE them those licenses, it's time they went back to acting like members of this society and give something back) in EQUAL amounts and at appropriate times (no prime time for one candidate or party, and 2 AM for the other). NO corporate money AT ALL. Make them pay taxes and put that into the general election fund (75% of fortune 500 companies pay NOTHING in taxes now). If a corporation is found to be trying to bribe ANY elected official, corporate death penalty time, as well as jail time for the ceo and those involved. And of course, the idea of "corporate personhood" MUST be overturned and made illegal. Until such a system is implemented, we stand absolutely NO chance of anything getting any better. In fact, they will only get worse. Money makes STUPID decisions, as is evidenced by everything that has been going on for the last 3 decades (or, in reality, the last 12 decades, ever since the former RR exec got corporate personhood put into the 1886 SCOTUS decision that screwed people once and for all in this country). Imagine what congress could actually get done if they weren't out whoring themselves to everyone with a dollar to waste. Funny how those in congress think they are better than the average person, when they are really nothing but whores for big money. All the more reason to have a system that is totally funded by public money. it is absolutely necessary to remove private money from ALL elections. Without that, we will never see an improvement in OUR situation, and will be the United Corporate States within a few years.

In such a system, jail time MUST be imposed on BOTH the giver and the receiver of private funds. No private money, even if it’s your own or your family’s. A certain amount should be afforded, along with FREE air time from both radio AND TV (we GIVE them those licenses, it’s time they went back to acting like members of this society and give something back) in EQUAL amounts and at appropriate times (no prime time for one candidate or party, and 2 AM for the other). NO corporate money AT ALL. Make them pay taxes and put that into the general election fund (75% of fortune 500 companies pay NOTHING in taxes now). If a corporation is found to be trying to bribe ANY elected official, corporate death penalty time, as well as jail time for the ceo and those involved. And of course, the idea of “corporate personhood” MUST be overturned and made illegal.

Until such a system is implemented, we stand absolutely NO chance of anything getting any better. In fact, they will only get worse. Money makes STUPID decisions, as is evidenced by everything that has been going on for the last 3 decades (or, in reality, the last 12 decades, ever since the former RR exec got corporate personhood put into the 1886 SCOTUS decision that screwed people once and for all in this country).

Imagine what congress could actually get done if they weren’t out whoring themselves to everyone with a dollar to waste. Funny how those in congress think they are better than the average person, when they are really nothing but whores for big money.

]]> By: uberVU - social comments http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2009/12/21/45-billion-a-sour-tasting-decade-of-out-of-control-political-spending/comment-page-1/#comment-75745 uberVU - social comments Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:54:40 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=13743#comment-75745 <strong>Social comments and analytics for this post...</strong> This post was mentioned on Reddit by srpr: In this decade, thanks to computerization of records and a few non-partisan organizations, we've learned how to follow the money. Well, so what? Has vastly increased public visibility of political money chang... Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Reddit by srpr: In this decade, thanks to computerization of records and a few non-partisan organizations, we’ve learned how to follow the money. Well, so what? Has vastly increased public visibility of political money chang…

]]> By: Brian Angliss http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2009/12/21/45-billion-a-sour-tasting-decade-of-out-of-control-political-spending/comment-page-1/#comment-75740 Brian Angliss Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:12:22 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/?p=13743#comment-75740 And this doesn't even include the possibility that the Supreme Court will legalize direct corporate donations to candidates when they rule later this session. Yep, just what I want - ExxonMobil, Koch, WalMart, et al donating millions to legally buy elections outright from coast to coast. And this doesn’t even include the possibility that the Supreme Court will legalize direct corporate donations to candidates when they rule later this session.

Yep, just what I want – ExxonMobil, Koch, WalMart, et al donating millions to legally buy elections outright from coast to coast.

]]>