What other reason would explain why billionaires and corporations give so much money to specific politicians? Other than a bribe?
Worded another way, how is it that campaign contributions don't count as violations of legal bribery laws?
Political donations seem inherently corrupt. I remember this seemed like a well-appreciated fact across the entire ideological spectrum 20 years ago, and there were proposals attempting to fix it. But now political donations are 10X higher, coming from anonymous sources, and everyone seems to shrug and think there's nothing that can be done?
They're not bribes when received from regular people. So they're not inherently wrong.
If there were no way to gain wealth from politics there wouldn't be so many rich politicians and business would stop donating. But people in power, like politicians, always make ways for themselves to benefit.
The answer is easy. Stop voting for rich people. Keep supporting those like Bernie Sanders and AOC. Dems shot themselves in the foot by voting for more wealthy people instead.
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@vivify saidI'd be concerned that if the Dems decided to do something crazy like ban super PAC contributions for their candidates, they will be massively outgunned.
They're not bribes when received from regular people. So they're not inherently wrong.
If there were no way to gain wealth from politics there wouldn't be so many rich politicians and business would stop donating. But people in power, like politicians, always make ways for themselves to benefit.
The answer is easy. Stop voting for rich people. Keep supporting tho ...[text shortened]... Bernie Sanders and AOC. Dems shot themselves in the foot by voting for more wealthy people instead.
Fundamentally, it seems like a reasonable legal argument can be made that unlimited donations are a direct threat to representative democracy, opening the door for putting caps on donations and more transparency in who or what is donating. Isn't the solution more along the lines of what John McCain was trying to do, limit the max dollar amount that individual politicians are allowed to use for campaigns?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipartisan_Campaign_Reform_Act
@wildgrass saidNo argument here. It could definitely be classified as a bribe. Examples by AvJoe not necessary!!
What other reason would explain why billionaires and corporations give so much money to specific politicians? Other than a bribe?
Worded another way, how is it that campaign contributions don't count as violations of legal bribery laws?
Political donations seem inherently corrupt. I remember this seemed like a well-appreciated fact across the entire ideological spectr ...[text shortened]... ming from anonymous sources, and everyone seems to shrug and think there's nothing that can be done?
If I own a mining deposit in canton OH, and worry daily of maybe even more regulations, if a pro mine guy is running for town or county board, guess who I will support. Maybe the bribe part comes when I tell him I had just donated $5,000 to his campaign
All legal. A legal bribe!!!!
@AverageJoe1 saidThat's certainly an example, but in some cases its even worse that corporations expecting changes to regulations that help them and hurt competitors.
No argument here. It could definitely be classified as a bribe. Examples by AvJoe not necessary!!
If I own a mining deposit in canton OH, and worry daily of maybe even more regulations, if a pro mine guy is running for town or county board, guess who I will support. Maybe the bribe part comes when I tell him I had just donated $5,000 to his campaign
All legal. A legal bribe!!!!
For example, some of the largest numbers come from corporations and indviduals who receive federal tax dollars. Publicly trade companies like Boeing and Lockheed contribute many millions of dollars to political campaigns and in return they get hundreds of billions in tax dollars steered in their direction via military contracts.
How is that not a bribe?
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@wildgrass saidOf course. But that will never happen so long as a rich politicians keep being elected.
Isn't the solution more along the lines of what John McCain was trying to do, limit the max dollar amount that individual politicians are allowed to use for campaigns?
The only solution is to elect more grass-roots politicians who aren't stupidly rich. But this could take many years or even generations to accomplish.
The problem is that the U.S. is like a massively obese person: the more fat and damage gained to the body as a result, the harder it is to make healthy. After a certain point, we may never fully recover.
@wildgrass saidYou always tell half the story, omitting inconvenient facts. Oh well, you can pretend that if you were the owner of the mine, that YOU WOULD NOT MAKE A DONATION to the candidate who is favorable to the mining industry.
That's certainly an example, but in some cases its even worse that corporations expecting changes to regulations that help them and hurt competitors.
For example, some of the largest numbers come from corporations and indviduals who receive federal tax dollars. Publicly trade companies like Boeing and Lockheed contribute many millions of dollars to political campaigns an ...[text shortened]... llions in tax dollars steered in their direction via military contracts.
How is that not a bribe?
Let me help, w this set of facts. You have 3 kids in college and have to pay their tuitions...(you just missed the Biden Train!!!). You have a lake house that needs a new roof, such as that, you have quite of goal of success for a happy family.
County restrictions on your business are looming ..Serious stuff. Gotta stay afloat, gotta cut corners, find some customers, get that ore out.
It is OK, any answer is Ok with us........we know the answer already.
Election is coming up on July 1, 2026. Where, like, do you put your donation?
@wildgrass saidCheck the Citizens United decision by the Supreme Court.
What other reason would explain why billionaires and corporations give so much money to specific politicians? Other than a bribe?
Worded another way, how is it that campaign contributions don't count as violations of legal bribery laws?
Political donations seem inherently corrupt. I remember this seemed like a well-appreciated fact across the entire ideological spectr ...[text shortened]... ming from anonymous sources, and everyone seems to shrug and think there's nothing that can be done?
They said that campaign contributions can be virtually unlimited, especially by corporations, that corporations' contributions should be considered the same as that by private individuals. They basically gave corporations an enhanced version of the First Amendment.
@wildgrass saidIt’s the Bechtel way. The revolving door that sends upper level management to Washington and returns them back to the company when they’ve been successful. It’s a cost plus boondoggle, and is it corruption if what’s good for Bechtel is good for America? And they are not alone in doing this. They are just the first and most successful at doing it.
What other reason would explain why billionaires and corporations give so much money to specific politicians? Other than a bribe?
Worded another way, how is it that campaign contributions don't count as violations of legal bribery laws?
Political donations seem inherently corrupt. I remember this seemed like a well-appreciated fact across the entire ideological spectr ...[text shortened]... ming from anonymous sources, and everyone seems to shrug and think there's nothing that can be done?
@AverageJoe1 saidAnd your annoying analogies are always, always BS.
You always tell half the story, omitting inconvenient facts. Oh well, you can pretend that if you were the owner of the mine, that YOU WOULD NOT MAKE A DONATION to the candidate who is favorable to the mining industry.
Let me help, w this set of facts. You have 3 kids in college and have to pay their tuitions...(you just missed the Biden Train!!!). You have a lake ...[text shortened]... nswer already.
Election is coming up on July 1, 2026. Where, like, do you put your donation?
@Suzianne saidI still think laws can be written to limit campaign contributions that would fit within constitutional law.
Check the Citizens United decision by the Supreme Court.
They said that campaign contributions can be virtually unlimited, especially by corporations, that corporations' contributions should be considered the same as that by private individuals. They basically gave corporations an enhanced version of the First Amendment.
@AverageJoe1 saidI don't understand any of this. You are saying a publicly traded mining company might use some of its earnings for political donations with no expectation of a return on the investment?
You always tell half the story, omitting inconvenient facts. Oh well, you can pretend that if you were the owner of the mine, that YOU WOULD NOT MAKE A DONATION to the candidate who is favorable to the mining industry.
Let me help, w this set of facts. You have 3 kids in college and have to pay their tuitions...(you just missed the Biden Train!!!). You have a lake ...[text shortened]... nswer already.
Election is coming up on July 1, 2026. Where, like, do you put your donation?
What about the companies who receive no bid military contracts from the same politicians that they donate to? How is that legal?