It's time to free American democracy from the devastating social and economic consequences of the systemic and wholesale bribery of politicians and elected officials. Thanks to the growing Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement, the consciousness of millions of people across the United States has been irreversible raised about this counterproductive predicament.
Public politicians ought to be "free" from the monetary bribes of the avarice and psychotic greed of the 1% who, many of whom, do not give a damn about the masses of poor and working class people.
There are some who have shown an arrogant disdain for the democratic principles of fairness, equal justice and opportunity, inclusiveness, and diversity. They openly buy politicians and pimp them to do whatever they want to obtain their insatiable desires for monopoly control.
As a means of stopping the bribery, there needs to be a Constitutional Amendment to make it illegal to buy, financially contribute to or to use money to influence federal elected officials. That would mean that the future election campaigns for all members of Congress as well as for the office of the President and the Vice President will be totally publicly financed. This will stop the partisan gridlock that has plagued Washington for too long, because the politicians will be working for the people again, not for the corporations who line up outside their office to lobby.
This would definitely not limit or deter freedom of speech, but would rather significantly enhance public political accountability, transparency and the "freedom" of political discourse from the often hidden reactionary hands of a few who would only manipulate the political system for their own narrow exclusive gains.
We welcome the sight of increasing numbers of people in protest actions that have been re-awakened on this issue. In order to effectively challenge income inequality, there needs to be a focus on establishing greater accountability between elected officials and the people who vote for them.
As the nation is about to go into full gear once again with the fast approaching 2012 national elections, there is a sense of urgency about making sure that the elections will be not be brought and controlled by the 1%. "Power to the people" ultimately means the empowerment of the masses through full participatory democracy and sustainable development. This idea benefits every American, whether you belong to the Tea Party, Democratic Party, Republican Party or no party.
There is a good regulatory resolution pending before the Los Angeles City Council that also calls for a Constitutional Amendment that would ban corporations from using money under the disguise of free speech and to further prohibit money from corporations to use to influence elections and political campaigns. The resolution was brought before the LA City Council by a national grass-roots group know as Move to Amend. Other anti-bribery coalitions are springing up across the nation. Much respect goes out to the Occupy Wall Street movement as the most visible and diverse movement for economic justice and equality.
We cannot afford to let the current status quo inequities continue without a nationwide show of solidarity and demand for change. It's time for the 100% to demand a stop to the political bribery system.
Follow Russell Simmons on Twitter: www.twitter.com/unclerush
Kirk Cheyfitz: How Much Does America Really Love Democracy?
Al Norman: Occupy Wall-Mart: Save America. Live Better.
Larry Ottinger: Could Newt Gingrich Work for the Obama Administration?
If indeed you donate money to a candidate because they speak on your behalf, you could consider this interstate commerce since they go to Washington and speak for you. In fact the Constitution explicitly gives Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce. Of course asking Congress to regulate itself is Catch-22.
Thanks Russell, Thanks Dr. Chavis.
This follows in the heels of a decent post by Steven Van Zant reminding us that free speech should not be for "those who can afford it". Neither should there be a benchmark "price" associated with a seat in Congress or the Senate.
We've lost our way and it's time to reach down deep - and become the "example" and the"beacon" for the rest of the world (again).
All Republicans and a good deal of conservative Democrats (Blue Dog Democrats) have consistently failed to support any legislation that brings forth those postions mentioned in this article despite the fact that the majority of Americans, Republicans AND Democrats, support those positions. The emphasis by American media like CNN, Fox, etc. instead focuses on issues that DIVIDE Americans. Sad.
Every time the networks talk about which candidate is winning the 'money race' we are all diminished as Americans.
Truth is, if people were just using their brains, no lobbying would work... but this is far fetched...
What is more interesting has been watching the unfolding of the current GOP primary and the role of the media in either ignoring, selecting, or tearing down various potential candidates. I'm not sure "air time" and actual popularity or intrinsic voter interest are in any way related.
Also interesting is the degree to which incumbency still seems to confer a general tactical advantage (despite polls showing that voters universally want to "throw all the bums out"). What is actually happening and what people say they want happening seems... out of sync.
The system is flawed in the eyes of the people - but oddly it seems to work very very well for the candidates (and the powers that be).
A travesty!!!
When all the choices are paid-off by somebody, the best we can do is vote for those who adhere to what is nest for the nation and its majority--i.e. Democrats, for those of us not in the top 1% of wealth or pliability--UNLESS and UNTIL we get a better solution in place, preferably removing the paying-off aspect of things.
Citizens United did not change that part of McCain-Feingold which pertained to campaign contributions.
Making assumptions about what somebody has or has not read or understood is supercilious enough without throwing in an abject lack of understanding that it isn't only the ONE case this person could have been referring to.
But you had to take that extra step into irony as you attacked a comment you obviously have not read or else the background supporting which you do not understand.
Take your pick.
In the short run, you just end up with come new, and often flagrantly worse, politicians who will busily line their pockets as they sell THEIR votes just like the last ones (or far moreso, in the cases of most of the new GOP you could vote in, since they have by ffar the strongest Wall Street backing and least Main Street empathy at the moment).
In the long run, it just results in a bunch of people spending their single term racking in as much lobbying money as they can and doing as they please despite the will of the people because they know we're not going to re-elect them anyway.
Short-sighted solutions are worse than none at all, at this point--which is why the upper-class tax-breaks can't be extended again, even if it's the GOP demand for continuing needed relief for the rest of us.
One vote.
One (limited) contribution.
No corporate ads, no lobbies, no pacs.
The solution is simple. Get the money out, and level the playing field.
Getting it passed by a congress whose current membership owes their elections to a system of state sanctioned legalized bribery? That have spent their entire political life on the gravy train?
There's the problem.
Our Congress is completely infected with the virus. So proposing an amendment through Congress seems hopeless. But luckily there is another way. We can do this purely at the state level. The states can call for a constitutional convention and they can ratify an amendment that comes out of one. And there is nothing our corrupt federal government can do about it. We must occupy the states.
http://www.wolf-pac.com/ OR http://www.getmoneyout.com/
Please sign the petitions and spread the word. Nothing will ever really change unless we get the money out - its our only hope.
All of it amounts to childish Utopian fantasies that divert from facing reality.
There is no political solution, never has been.
Nobody's aiming for Utopia--that would be as pointless as nihilistically claiming there's nothing we can do.
But settling for something so corrupt that it's destroying itself isn't working, and we have this funny history, as a People, of improving what doesn't work and making thaty effort to become "more perfect" even though we know we cannot become perfect.
Otherwise, there'd be no point to existing at all.