I’ve been having an ongoing argument with a friend on the Western Shore about contributing to political campaigns. She contributes. I don’t.
My friend’s contributions are small. She is retired and an enthusiastic supporter of one political party over the other. This year, with passions running high, she has made several contributions, some to individual candidates and some to political action committees, including a national committee run by a national political party.
Nobody I know would call my friend’s contributions corrupt. To the contrary, many would express admiration that a person of less than unlimited means sacrifices on travel, dining out, and even classical music concerts to support what she calls “the good people.” Other times she just says, “democracy.”
I have not tried to dissuade my friend from making contributions but instead argue that corporate and special interest political contributions are poisoning democracy. My friend disagrees and argues that because “the other side” is the beneficiary of large contributions from corporations and special interests, “our side” needs to do the same thing.
My problem is it is all but impossible to regulate political contributions. Should we ban candidates from donating to their own campaigns? How about spouses of candidates, or children?
I don’t buy the argument, relied upon by the Supreme Court suggesting that political contributions are a right protected under the Constitution.
This year, I have been nauseated by reports that the likes of Elon Musk are planning to pour millions into advertising for Republican candidates in the hopes of stemming what appears to be a pretty massive “blue wave.” I also have been troubled by reports of what might be charitably called “heavy-handed fundraising” by President Trump and his allies. I am even more troubled by President Trump’s recent promise of a “Trump dividend” of $5,000 for each adult citizen, premised on the Republicans retaining control of the House and Senate.
I see corruption, and lots of it. I also sense the stench of corruption in the expectation of many big Republican donors that their massive donations will secure victory on November 3rd despite the President’s low approval ratings and signs that he is off-the-rails.
I would like to see all money banned from political campaigns, a position that will surely earn me dismissal as naïve by many readers. When I discuss getting rid of money in elections, I am told campaigning is impossible without it and that if such a ban existed without federal funding substituting for private contributions, only rich people would be able to run for Congress. Obviously, my idea needs a bit more work.
In pondering a democracy not undermined by money, I came across a quote from Plato. Long before America saw the likes of Trump, Plato opined: “It is an essential feature of the just state that the wealthy be kept away from political power and that the politically powerful be kept away from wealth.”
Franklin Roosevelt wrote, “The liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism—ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power.”
I also found a quote by David Korten, a former professor at the Harvard Business School: “The dark side of capitalism is that it tends to subvert democracy. When money is allowed to buy political power, the voice of the people is silenced.”
I could go on, but lest you assume that I am condemning just Republicans, I also condemn special interest money supporting Democrats. Money supporting progressives and purporting to promote the public good works the same way that money supporting repeal of environmental regulations, healthcare, and other things most of us consider beneficial works by buying votes with ads on TV and the internet, yard signs, and rallies.
Here on the Eastern Shore, we have a Democrat seeking to unseat Andy “Handgun” Harris. Dan Schwartz is refusing PAC and special interest contributions. Congressman Harris isn’t. He has received contributions from the likes of multiple pharmaceutical companies, Northrop Grumman and various energy companies, big tobacco, and even the GEO Group, a corporation that runs private prisons. Dare I suggest Harris, when not kowtowing to Donald Trump, is more answerable to these donors than his constituents?
I already know who I will vote for in November. Special interests can’t buy my vote. I turn off the TV or ignore campaign commercials when I see them. You should do the same.
Don’t let anyone buy your vote. Money in politics is stifling democracy by allowing the rich, special interests, and corporations to buy politicians. Don’t be fooled again.