money talks, democracy walks

The usually under-the-radar Charles Koch is being open & above board about sinking a lot of money into five potential GOP presidential contenders.  He & his brother, David, expect to sink $900 million into the 2016 elections.  

$900,000,000

from two people. 

But that's okay - the Supreme Court tells us that money is the same as free speech.  Charles & David Koch apparently have a lot to say.  

One of the aspects of the 2008 financial melt-down that's rarely addressed is how it shifted political power to the seriously wealthy.  While the fortunes of the investor class has been reinvigorated & restored, those of lesser lights are still floundering.  Our economy is said to be recovering, but the median income is still iffy, while savings & other indicators of financial stability remain devastated, even decimated.

In the last general election - 2014 - the people at the tippy top of our financial spectrum (that mega $$$ 1%) gave 42% of all political donations.  Folks who are stretching their dollar to cover housing shelter necessities don't have a lot extra to donate.  

The recovery has restored the wealthy, increased the income gap, mangled the middle class, and - together with 2010's Citizens United ruling & the derailing of union might - left us with...  a mess.

Charles Koch says that only a third of the allocated $900 mil — roughly $300 million — is earmarked for 2016 federal and state elections.  That's still staggering, by my plebian standards.

I am not saying that there aren't any millionaires & billionaires who support liberal causes - it just seems that the GOP sugar daddies are the ones who make the biggest splash.

Whatever their political beliefs, one fact remains the same - when money talks, democracy walks.  As a nation, we swung from touting campaign finance reform to burying it.  With the Koch brothers chipping in unimaginable amounts & others raising their own ante, we're heading closer & closer toward open oligarchy.