General Discussion

LisaM

(29,465 posts)

36. We have to get rid of Citizens United first.

Mon Nov 6, 2017, 03:52 PM

Nov 2017

Many, many Democratic (and a few Republican) politicians would like to get rid of the big money in politics. But as long as Citizens United is on the books (and remember, it came about because of an anti-Hillary documentary), how do we keep competitive?

I would love publicly financed (and shorter) campaigns. But how to achieve it? And, how to keep people who are new to politics from spending all their donations on specific candidates rather than larger groups (like political parties) that can spread the wealth a little bit?

And unless we limit the amount that can actually be spent (not raised), how do we keep politics from favoring the rich? We'll just get more people financing their own campaigns (I know that the Obamas and Clintons are wealthy now, but they didn't start out that way, and earned most of their money from book deals and speaking fees). A lot of recent Republican candidates have come from wealthy families - Bush, Romney, Trump....

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I thought maybe I could get most everyone here upset with me [View all] Tom Rinaldo Nov 2017 OP

Post removed Post removed Nov 2017 #1

Agreed. Regardless of whether one thinks it's a good or bad idea for him to run for President again Tom Rinaldo Nov 2017 #4

Why do you think that he refuses? (nt) ehrnst Nov 2017 #39

I guess the removed post asked why Bernie hasn't released his tax returns. yardwork Nov 2017 #51

I am fairly certain of it.. disillusioned73 Nov 2017 #68

Actually, I think that it's weird that he refuses to release his tax returns. yardwork Nov 2017 #70

Well.. disillusioned73 Nov 2017 #71

If it's income tax returns being spoken about, many trusted that he'd do so in the last campaign.... George II Nov 2017 #86

Right. He couldn't make an issue of DT's unwillingness since he wasn't doing it either. n/t pnwmom Nov 2017 #11

This is a good post RhodeIslandOne Nov 2017 #2

Ditto iluvtennis Nov 2017 #23

The dems are partly responsible for the fact that the GOP has their boot on our neck. CrispyQ Nov 2017 #73

excellent piece MaryMagdaline Nov 2017 #3

The first step is always reaching a consensus about the need to do so. Tom Rinaldo Nov 2017 #5

And in the meantime, how do we replace the union dollars that sustained us in the past? ehrnst Nov 2017 #40

Just some thoughts Tom Rinaldo Nov 2017 #42

So why aren't these organizations a source of $$ for the DNC now? ehrnst Nov 2017 #44

Well, I'm a straight white male working in the Democratic Party Tom Rinaldo Nov 2017 #46

I believe the number of people identifying with a party has fallen ehrnst Nov 2017 #48

For the record - you have changed the conversation from what I wrote about in the OP Tom Rinaldo Nov 2017 #50

Not likely to happen, but marylandblue Nov 2017 #6

When you say dark money ehrnst Nov 2017 #45

Also, in addition to what marylandblue wrote... Tom Rinaldo Nov 2017 #7

It's not always easy to tell what is grassroots and what is propaganda anymore. ehrnst Nov 2017 #41

Great narrative. Thanks. n/t SpankMe Nov 2017 #8

The share of Millennials who identify as independent is up eight points since 2008. progressoid Nov 2017 #9

Independents in primaries MaryMagdaline Nov 2017 #24

I chair our local Democratic Committee, and that is my experience also Tom Rinaldo Nov 2017 #25

Same here. progressoid Nov 2017 #28

I don't think that's unusual historically... llmart Nov 2017 #64

The movement away from Party identification toward Independent status perhaps... Tom Rinaldo Nov 2017 #77

I know several Independents. All they want to do is vote when it is time. They don't want to work coolsandy Nov 2017 #80

Don't they need progress in the future? treestar Nov 2017 #60

A well thought out post. Thank you. GoneOffShore Nov 2017 #10

Post removed Post removed Nov 2017 #12

I guess that's partial vindication for the subject line anyway Tom Rinaldo Nov 2017 #15

Sanders was good as a diagnostician grantcart Nov 2017 #13

I love true public service from the ranks of the well connected Tom Rinaldo Nov 2017 #16

Actually it used to be that clever and earnest people strove to wealth so they could give their time grantcart Nov 2017 #38

There is never a shortage of ways in which those with wealth can use it for social good. Tom Rinaldo Nov 2017 #43

Your suggestion to eliminate contributions from rich contributors because enforcing regulations is grantcart Nov 2017 #53

Here is what I actually wrote Tom Rinaldo Nov 2017 #54

Bad analogy.. whathehell Nov 2017 #63

"turn up the heat in the hotel light bulbs"? Really. How did they do that? George II Nov 2017 #84

You would have to ask The Chicago Tribune.. whathehell Nov 2017 #89

I agree. When someone outside our party joet67 Nov 2017 #14

money is power Hamlette Nov 2017 #17

The only thing I will say... Adrahil Nov 2017 #18

Our brand name is the forest Tom Rinaldo Nov 2017 #19

"I thought maybe I could get most everyone here upset with me" B2G Nov 2017 #20

LOL Clearly this wasn't my most productive exercise in my regard Tom Rinaldo Nov 2017 #22

great post bluestarone Nov 2017 #21

I enjoyed reading this but don't think your last paragraph.... NCTraveler Nov 2017 #26

True Tom Rinaldo Nov 2017 #31

Again, proven appearances. NCTraveler Nov 2017 #35

Marta & I.... Omaha Steve Nov 2017 #27

World's 8 richest men are worth as much as 3.6 billion people. jalan48 Nov 2017 #29

Maybe the answer is NOT to wean the policital parties off big money. Instead... Binkie The Clown Nov 2017 #30

Under centrism perhaps, as compared to hard right wing policies Tom Rinaldo Nov 2017 #32

Money corrupts hueymahl Nov 2017 #33

Wash, rinse, repeat, wash, rinse, repeat. Yup -- the Dems' policies bail the country out and then Ukapau Nov 2017 #37

That is at least an idea treestar Nov 2017 #62

This is a good post. Of course, I'm the quintessential idealist. PatrickforO Nov 2017 #34

We have to get rid of Citizens United first. LisaM Nov 2017 #36

Unilateral disarmament is not a winning strategy Progressive dog Nov 2017 #47

Well we simply disagree then Tom Rinaldo Nov 2017 #49

If the "weaning" is unilateral Progressive dog Nov 2017 #88

The fix is to shorten the political season to just the election year. Persondem Nov 2017 #52

I wholeheartedly agree with you in principle blue-wave Nov 2017 #55

Thank you and couldn't agree more Boomer Nov 2017 #56

I don't think it's news, or new, that money controls things in a country. Any country. Honeycombe8 Nov 2017 #57

Had the Dems not sat back while they saw unions dying & jobs being offshored whathehell Nov 2017 #58

How come the Republican party can do it? treestar Nov 2017 #59

Well Said! jimlup Nov 2017 #61

Bernie and Trump talked about similar things, which is why I kept saying Trump would win adigal Nov 2017 #65

Yes but this cuts to the core of everything we buy bucolic_frolic Nov 2017 #66

You wrote as though Trusts never form to distort pure market forces Tom Rinaldo Nov 2017 #74

Once again, this clip sums it up BumRushDaShow Nov 2017 #67

K&R.. great post disillusioned73 Nov 2017 #69

Just heard Van Jones zentrum Nov 2017 #72

Then Bernie should start in his own state of Vermont frazzled Nov 2017 #75

I don't believe in sacred cows when it comes to politics Tom Rinaldo Nov 2017 #76

I thought the issue was the Paradise Papers and the hiding of wealth frazzled Nov 2017 #78

It transcends individual political leaders and whatever shortcomings they might have. Tom Rinaldo Nov 2017 #79

I think you did frazzled Nov 2017 #81

Readers, like everything else, vary Tom Rinaldo Nov 2017 #82

For what its worth, to me the OP's purpose was not to deify Sanders. LiberalLovinLug Nov 2017 #87

With the Koch brothers and other deep pocketed contributors pouring hundreds of millions... George II Nov 2017 #83

Read through the replies, it has already been subject to a fair amount of discussion. n/t Tom Rinaldo Nov 2017 #85