Robert Reich: Only $4.2 Billion to Buy This Election?

[kpete]

This, from the Washington Post's conservative pundit George Will:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/15/AR2010101504201.html

Total spending by parties, campaigns and issue-advocacy groups concerning every office from county clerks to U.S. senators may reach a record $4.2 billion in this two-year cycle. That is about what Americans spend in one year on yogurt, but less than they spend on candy in two Halloween seasons. Proctor & Gamble spent $8.6 billion on advertising in its last fiscal year.

Those who are determined to reduce the quantity of political speech to what they consider the proper amount are the sort of people who know exactly how much water should come through our shower heads -- no more than 2.5 gallons per minute, as stipulated by a 1992 law. Is it, however, worrisome that Americans spend on political advocacy -- determining who should make and administer the laws -- much less than they spend on potato chips, $7.1 billion a year?

In a word, Mr. Will, yes.

The number of dollars spent isn't the issue; it's the lopsidedness of where the dollars come from. Even if the total were only $1,000, democracy would be endangered if $980 came from large corporations and wealthy individuals. The trend is clear and worrisome: The great bulk of campaign money is coming from a narrower and narrower circle of monied interests.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-reich/only-42-billion-to-buy-th_b_775286.html

[xchrom]

1. recommend

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. Not to worry, our ethical politicians are turning down the tarnished money.

:sarcasm:

[Demeter]

3. Thank You!

You brought a smile to my face...not a belly laugh, I'm probably too depressed for that, but the lightening of spirit is GREATLY appreciated.

[eomer]

4. Corrected formatting:

The formatting in Reich's original article is messed up, causing confusion over which words are his and which words he is quoting from George Will. Here's how it should have been formatted:

This, from the Washington Post's conservative pundit George Will:

Total spending by parties, campaigns and issue-advocacy groups concerning every office from county clerks to U.S. senators may reach a record $4.2 billion in this two-year cycle. That is about what Americans spend in one year on yogurt, but less than they spend on candy in two Halloween seasons. Proctor & Gamble spent $8.6 billion on advertising in its last fiscal year.

Those who are determined to reduce the quantity of political speech to what they consider the proper amount are the sort of people who know exactly how much water should come through our shower heads -- no more than 2.5 gallons per minute, as stipulated by a 1992 law. Is it, however, worrisome that Americans spend on political advocacy -- determining who should make and administer the laws -- much less than they spend on potato chips, $7.1 billion a year?

In a word, Mr. Will, yes.

The number of dollars spent isn't the issue; it's the lopsidedness of where the dollars come from. Even if the total were only $1,000, democracy would be endangered if $980 came from large corporations and wealthy individuals. The trend is clear and worrisome: The great bulk of campaign money is coming from a narrower and narrower circle of monied interests.

-snip-

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-reich/only-42-bill...