Can billionaires continue to buy elections in the US?

[msc545]

We know they have the financial ability to do this. Can we deal with it or do we just let them keep on doing it - if we do, we might as well all stop voting.

[MisterWack]

Billionaires pour millions of dollars into campaign contributions to get their way, billionaires pour millions of dollars during the transition period then billionaires continue to influence & pull the strings throughout the presidency with keys to The White House AND The House of Reps AND The Senate.

Just a reminder: Elon Musk’s own attorney admitted that the million dollar raffle in Pennsylvania for registered voters in the state were predetermined and not randomized raffle as Elon Musk would have it seem. He is one of the richest guys in the world and he influenced the election as well as the judge letting him go off the hook / saying it was a legal endeavor even as his own attorney admitted to wrong doing & false advertising & influencing an election.

Nothing will stop big corporate entities from weaseling in our system of self governance and the only way to fix it is by having the politicians from both sides refuse the special treatment which just isn’t going to happen.

[NaultD]

Let's figure out what the billionairs actually buying. They can't write a check to buy a vote. Gotta give the average republican some credit they would wipe their ass and hand back that check. So that alone gives me hope.

One thing if see them buying is feeding people their fears.

Also billionairs can't buy love and affection. So a level of compassion is in order but it can't be unconditional. It does have to be reciprocal. As corny as it sounds the power of friendship is key.

The rich get richer but the average person can only be so lonely. Like king midus touch of gold is ultimately a tragic curse. People will come out the other end of this as better people. Too many will be hurt in the process but we can only do the best we can.

[Anonymous]

Hard to say. I mean Kamala raised over a billion and is 20 million in debt, paid celebrities and influences for their support, the owners of the mainstream media generally backed her and she still lost.

The real question is not whether billionaires can buy elections but can they buy politicians because if they can all they have to do is buy whatever candidates are running.

[msc545]

Of course they can buy politicians. That is how they buy elections. Think about this a little bit.

[Opinion Owner]

So to buy an election you buy both candidates,?

[msc545]

I don't know as I don't do this.

[Opinion Owner]

Well that way you can't lose.

[msc545]

true

[Opinion Owner]

So the illusion of democracy

[Kelley1]

It take money to get elected. The Billionaires buy the elections so the politician's do as the billionaires wish. What ordinary people want is not important because they buy the elections.

[Kelley1]

* What ordinary people want is not important because they DON'T buy the elections.
0 Reply

[exitseven]

As long as PACs are legal there is not much that can be done. Outlaw PACs and ban for life any violators and you help take a lot of the money out of politics.

[goaded]

Remember who gutted laws stopping unlimited spending in support of political candidates. It wasn't the left, and it wasn't the people:

"80% of those surveyed opposed (and 65% strongly opposed)" the Citizen's United ruling. 72% supported "an effort by Congress to reinstate limits on corporate and union spending on election campaigns".
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizens_United_v._FEC#Polls

[msc545]

good idea

[DrPepper12]

Public campaign finance is the solution for SO MANY problems!! But no, we have DUMASS citizens who say " I'm not paying for them to lie to me! Fuck that!" And these low wattage imbeciles actually have the temerity and audacity to wonder who's filling the void of funding campaigns when they won't!! USA Americans are the stupidest people on the planet that they can't figure this SIMPLE cause n effect out!!

[goaded]

The Trump campaign is threatening senators with primaries funded by Musk.

[msc545]

Of course they are.

[slatyb]

They can certainly contribute millions to PACs. Will it be enough? People still vote. Many candidates have spent millions of their own money in losing campaigns.

[msc545]

I wonder how often they straight-up bribe politicians?

[goaded]

"Campaign contributions", please. And "gratuities". Never "bribes".

[Anonymous]

Seriously democrats raised and spent nearly 3 times as much as Trump & Musk combined and your going with them buying the election?

Yes... democrat billionaires and origination did try to buy the election.

[msc545]

Evidence? Or your opinion yet again?

[Opinion Owner]

@msc545

www.cnn.com/.../presidential-candidates-money-raised-dg

[msc545]

Raising money for a campaign is legitimate. Bribes are not and violations of donation limits are not. Try again.

[Opinion Owner]

@msc545
A bit off topic but we don't agree that happened

[msc545]

Of course you don't

[beefcakebradybatson]

America has the worst politicians BILLIONAIRES can buy !!!

[msc545]

Wow! You are completely right about this. That is a great statement and really true!

[beefcakebradybatson]

Musk as Trump's bestie. Scary, isn't it?

[Anonymous]

how does someone "buy" an election?

[RedInnocent69]

To a point, but there’s a backlash as well as a financial cost

[Agape93]

Yeah, because as a society we allow it.

[Alex-Snow]

Well they did several weeks ago.

[Anonymous]

Same as the past 100 years then

[noohair]

How would you stop it for both sides?

[msc545]

i am not sure you can.

[seeyounexttuesday]

We stopped them just earlier this month.

[msc545]

You wish you did. You made it worse as you will find out later.

[Anonymous]

Evidently