FROM NBCs FIRST READ ... 1) the rise of the oligarchs and 2) the financial arms race -- raise this important question: Is this any way to run a democracy? The New Yorkers John Cassidy argues that what the Roberts Court has done with the Citizens United and McCutcheon decisions is to take the principle of one man, one vote to one dollar, one vote. Given the current Supreme Court, the remedies are very limited on how to put limits on political money if money equals speech. So its either a constitutional amendment (good luck with that) or more aggressive laws on disclosure (which could at least create a NASCAR-ization to politics where everyones sponsor is there for all to see). Whats stunning is how little interest there is in Congress to even promote the idea of more disclosure. But bottom line: This system of financing campaigns has now consolidated power in the hands of a few, which neither party should be celebrating. Does any candidate who runs for office want to have a wealthy person dictating the terms of the debate for them by simply using the power of their purse? Over the next week or so, the NBC News Political Unit will have ongoing coverage of the Rise of the Oligarchs in American politics. So be on the lookout.
Posted on: Thu, 03 Apr 2014 16:20:41 +0000
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