Bernie Sanders' service to democracy worldwide by vehemently opposing BIG MONEY's unfair influence in politics
[The contents of this post have been copy-pasted from my Facebook post here: https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/1667415626808341.]
Contents of shared Facebook (FB) post of Robert Reich:
Last night, at the University of Chicago, Bernie Sanders pledged that “no nominee of mine to the United States Supreme Court will get that job unless he or she is loud and clear that one of their first orders of business will be to overturn Citizens United.” Bernie couldn’t be clearer, or righter. The Supreme Court’s 2010 “Citizens United” decision has done exactly what we feared it would do -- unleash an even larger torrent of money into our political system. Most of it is from extremely wealth people -- top corporate executives, Wall Street moguls, and billionaires -- who expect something in return. In 2012, just 400 people provided 40 percent of all campaign contributions.
What did they get for their efforts? Laws giving them more tax breaks and subsidies, and the blockage of laws and regulations that would reduce their profits and wealth. They've thereby further rigged the so-called “free market” to their benefit and against the interests of most Americans. Which, in turn, has enhanced their wealth, enabling them to rig the system even more. It’s a vicious cycle that can only get worse unless we get big money out of politics. “American democracy is not supposed to be about billionaires buying elections,” Bernie said last night. “It is not supposed to be about super PACS collecting huge amounts of money from the wealthiest people in the country having more power over the candidate’s campaign that the candidate himself or herself.” Exactly.
Generally, I don’t like political litmus tests for Supreme Court candidates. But Bernie’s litmus test is absolutely necessary.
What do you think?
--- end contents of Robert Reich FB post ---
My comments on my share of above FB post:
I think that having a PUBLIC and VIGOROUS DEBATE on these and related kind of issues (reducing power of big contributors to political campaigns from unfairly influencing government) are vital for keeping democracy vibrant and meaningful in the twenty-first century not only in USA but in other democracies the world over, including the world's most populous democracy, India (my country).
I thank USA Senator and USA democratic presidential candidate, Bernie Sanders, for bringing this issue to the fore in his political campaign, which is helping this issue gain prominence far beyond his USA presidential election political campaign.
---- end my comments ---
[I thank Robert Reich and have presumed that he will not have any objections to me sharing the above contents of his short Facebook post on this blog post which is freely viewable by all, and does not have any financial profit motive whatsoever.]
Contents of shared Facebook (FB) post of Robert Reich:
Last night, at the University of Chicago, Bernie Sanders pledged that “no nominee of mine to the United States Supreme Court will get that job unless he or she is loud and clear that one of their first orders of business will be to overturn Citizens United.” Bernie couldn’t be clearer, or righter. The Supreme Court’s 2010 “Citizens United” decision has done exactly what we feared it would do -- unleash an even larger torrent of money into our political system. Most of it is from extremely wealth people -- top corporate executives, Wall Street moguls, and billionaires -- who expect something in return. In 2012, just 400 people provided 40 percent of all campaign contributions.
What did they get for their efforts? Laws giving them more tax breaks and subsidies, and the blockage of laws and regulations that would reduce their profits and wealth. They've thereby further rigged the so-called “free market” to their benefit and against the interests of most Americans. Which, in turn, has enhanced their wealth, enabling them to rig the system even more. It’s a vicious cycle that can only get worse unless we get big money out of politics. “American democracy is not supposed to be about billionaires buying elections,” Bernie said last night. “It is not supposed to be about super PACS collecting huge amounts of money from the wealthiest people in the country having more power over the candidate’s campaign that the candidate himself or herself.” Exactly.
Generally, I don’t like political litmus tests for Supreme Court candidates. But Bernie’s litmus test is absolutely necessary.
What do you think?
--- end contents of Robert Reich FB post ---
My comments on my share of above FB post:
I think that having a PUBLIC and VIGOROUS DEBATE on these and related kind of issues (reducing power of big contributors to political campaigns from unfairly influencing government) are vital for keeping democracy vibrant and meaningful in the twenty-first century not only in USA but in other democracies the world over, including the world's most populous democracy, India (my country).
I thank USA Senator and USA democratic presidential candidate, Bernie Sanders, for bringing this issue to the fore in his political campaign, which is helping this issue gain prominence far beyond his USA presidential election political campaign.
---- end my comments ---
[I thank Robert Reich and have presumed that he will not have any objections to me sharing the above contents of his short Facebook post on this blog post which is freely viewable by all, and does not have any financial profit motive whatsoever.]
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