Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton and the Money

[Ferd Berfel]

http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/34830-bernie-sanders-hillary-clinton-and-the-money

by Dean Baker

It's not just that politicians want to act to curry the favor of the rich and powerful, more typically they identify with the interests of the rich and powerful so that they don't even see themselves as compromising a principle.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has made the corrupting role of money in politics a centerpiece of his campaign. He has argued that because campaign contributions by the rich pay for political campaigns, they are able to control the political process. This gives us a political system that is very effective at serving Wall Street and the insurance and pharmaceutical industries. It is much less effective at serving the needs of ordinary people.

This has created an interesting dynamic in the race for the Democratic nomination. Secretary Hillary Clinton has flipped Sanders' claim around and challenged him to show where she has reversed a position to serve the moneyed interests. This might be a useful campaign tactic, but it misrepresents the way in which money affects campaigns.

(snip)

If this sounds strange, let's imagine a slightly different scenario. Suppose Senator Sanders had spent four years in President Obama's cabinet during which time he did everything he could to try to break up the big banks and have corporate criminals put behind bars. Does anyone believe Goldman Sachs would pay him $250,000 to recount his experiences?

[cali]

1. Great piece.

[Ferd Berfel]

2. Dean Baker is one of the 171 economists that support Bernies

wall Street reforms !

[Green Texan]

3. Great point.

I think Hillary's supporters are ignoring facts and are supporting her for a reason that they don't like to admit.

[Ferd Berfel]

4. From the Atlantic Articl posted elswhere