• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

The Super Rich Tell Republicans What To Think

Peacenik

We Live In Societies
DP Veteran
Joined
Nov 26, 2021
Messages
11,118
Reaction score
9,038
Location
USA
Political Leaning
Progressive
And Republicans eat it right up.

And they also tell them how to vote - and they obediently vote that way without question.

“Why do a small number of rich people exert so much influence in what is supposed to be a democracy?” Krugman asks. “Campaign contributions are only part of the story. Equally, if not more, important is the network of billionaire-financed think tanks, lobbying groups and so on that shapes public discourse.”

Paul Krugman lays out why the ultra-rich get their way in politics — regardless often of what the ‘vast majority of voters’ want


That's how the super-rich get Republicans to vote for things the super-rich want - and often against their own better interest.

"The network of billionaire-financed think tanks, lobbying groups and so on that shapes public discourse."

They are literally telling the right what to think, and the right just goes right along with it. It's much easier than independent thought. And lazier. But that's how you get average income people to vote for tax breaks for the super-rich, and hate liberals so much that no coordination with them is possible to break the stranglehold the super-rich have on conservative thinking. And on USA politics.

1. Secretive nonprofits and think tanks often funnel money into political activities while obfuscating the donor records.

“In 2013, there were over a hundred thousand private foundations in the United States with assets of over $800 billion. These peculiarly American organizations, run with little transparency or accountability to either voters or consumers yet publicly subsidized by tax breaks, have grown into 800-billion-pound Goliaths in the public policy realm.” -Jane Mayer

2. Billionaire donors get tax benefits for philanthropy, but they still control how the money is spent.

“People say, ‘Wow — they’re so generous!’ It’s just the best available option for them. If they didn’t give it to their causes, they would have to give it to the government. At least this way they control how it’s spent.” -Gus diZerega, former friend of Charles and David Koch, talking about their philanthropy

David Koch has acknowledged. ‘And if they make a wrong turn and start doing things we don’t agree with,’ he told [magazine editor Brian Doherty], ‘we withdraw funding.’”

3. Donors have begun funding think tanks and scientists to create doubt about the science behind climate change.

“The early think tank was not a spy operation, but it was funded by wealthy men who had no objections to using pretexts and disinformation in the service of what they regarded as a noble cause.” -Jane Mayer

4. Donors are injecting money into education to create a pipeline of new political talent educated by conservative ideology.

“Through these carefully curated programs, the foundation trained the next generation of conservatives, whom [Olin Foundation Executive Director Michael] Joyce likened to ‘a wine collection’ that would grow more valuable as its members aged, increasing in stature and power.” -Jane Mayer

5. Donors have become kingmakers, and politicians must pay obeisance to them.

“Let’s call the system that Citizens United and other rulings and laws have created what it is: an oligarchy. The system is controlled by a handful of ultra-wealthy people, most of whom got rich from the system and who will get richer from the system.” -Mark McKinnon, centrist political consultant

This isn’t the type of article with a happy ending. There’s no quick fix to the problems described above. However, there are many incremental fixes we can make as a society, and many of those incremental fixes come back to mandating greater transparency. We, the American people, need more transparency into who is funding scientific research and for what purpose, who is creating new legal programs on college campuses and what they’re receiving for those donations, and which political candidates have received donations from billionaires and large corporations.

In the words of former Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis, “Sunlight is the best disinfectant.”

How Dark Money, Political Think Tanks, and Billionaire Kingmakers Influence Our Political System

 
And Republicans eat it right up.

And they also tell them how to vote - and they obediently vote that way without question.



That's how the super-rich get Republicans to vote for things the super-rich want - and often against their own better interest.



They are literally telling the right what to think, and the right just goes right along with it. It's much easier than independent thought. And lazier. But that's how you get average income people to vote for tax breaks for the super-rich, and hate liberals so much that no coordination with them is possible to break the stranglehold the super-rich have on conservative thinking. And on USA politics.

1. Secretive nonprofits and think tanks often funnel money into political activities while obfuscating the donor records.



2. Billionaire donors get tax benefits for philanthropy, but they still control how the money is spent.





3. Donors have begun funding think tanks and scientists to create doubt about the science behind climate change.



4. Donors are injecting money into education to create a pipeline of new political talent educated by conservative ideology.



5. Donors have become kingmakers, and politicians must pay obeisance to them.





How Dark Money, Political Think Tanks, and Billionaire Kingmakers Influence Our Political System

... he says while parroting Paul Krugman.
 
... he says while parroting Paul Krugman.
I was expecting something more challenging than attacking the author.

But so be it, if you can forward no objection to the points made, only one of the references given.

The vast majority of the OP is actually from another source.

Whoopsie!
 
And Republicans eat it right up.

And they also tell them how to vote - and they obediently vote that way without question.



That's how the super-rich get Republicans to vote for things the super-rich want - and often against their own better interest.



They are literally telling the right what to think, and the right just goes right along with it. It's much easier than independent thought. And lazier. But that's how you get average income people to vote for tax breaks for the super-rich, and hate liberals so much that no coordination with them is possible to break the stranglehold the super-rich have on conservative thinking. And on USA politics.

1. Secretive nonprofits and think tanks often funnel money into political activities while obfuscating the donor records.



2. Billionaire donors get tax benefits for philanthropy, but they still control how the money is spent.





3. Donors have begun funding think tanks and scientists to create doubt about the science behind climate change.



4. Donors are injecting money into education to create a pipeline of new political talent educated by conservative ideology.



5. Donors have become kingmakers, and politicians must pay obeisance to them.





How Dark Money, Political Think Tanks, and Billionaire Kingmakers Influence Our Political System

No----VOTERS tell the politicians what to think. Corporations don't cast ballots
 
No----VOTERS tell the politicians what to think. Corporations don't cast ballots

That's what they want people to believe.
 
??? Well, uh------that IS a fact
The politicians are on the take from the super-rich. The super-rich donate to think tanks and the donations are hidden so we don't even know who is funding all the message-forming. But we do know that it is a lot of money from a few people. The think-tanks then come up with messaging that resonates with (often hateful) people. The messaging is designed to get people to vote for Republicans, usually on the basis of culture wars.

The Republican politicians then turn around and reward to super-rich with tax breaks that actually hurt the voters.
 
The politicians are on the take from the super-rich. The super-rich donate to think tanks and the donations are hidden so we don't even know who is funding all the message-forming. But we do know that it is a lot of money from a few people. The think-tanks then come up with messaging that resonates with (often hateful) people. The messaging is designed to get people to vote for Republicans, usually on the basis of culture wars.

The Republican politicians then turn around and reward to super-rich with tax breaks that actually hurt the voters.
it is STILL up to the voters. It is not the fault of the big money people that voters are fooled. Voters rarely take the time to know the issues = their fault
 
From the link:

Krugman continues, “And then there’s the revolving door: it’s depressingly normal for former officials from both parties to take jobs with big banks, corporations and consulting firms. And the prospect of such employment can’t help but influence policy while they’re still in office.”


It is a little more complicated.
 
No----VOTERS tell the politicians what to think. Corporations don't cast ballots

If you honestly think corporations like Coca-Cola, Apple and Ford have no impact on politics then I question how much you take notice of global politics.
 
And Republicans eat it right up.

And they also tell them how to vote - and they obediently vote that way without question.



That's how the super-rich get Republicans to vote for things the super-rich want - and often against their own better interest.



They are literally telling the right what to think, and the right just goes right along with it. It's much easier than independent thought. And lazier. But that's how you get average income people to vote for tax breaks for the super-rich, and hate liberals so much that no coordination with them is possible to break the stranglehold the super-rich have on conservative thinking. And on USA politics.

1. Secretive nonprofits and think tanks often funnel money into political activities while obfuscating the donor records.



2. Billionaire donors get tax benefits for philanthropy, but they still control how the money is spent.





3. Donors have begun funding think tanks and scientists to create doubt about the science behind climate change.



4. Donors are injecting money into education to create a pipeline of new political talent educated by conservative ideology.



5. Donors have become kingmakers, and politicians must pay obeisance to them.





How Dark Money, Political Think Tanks, and Billionaire Kingmakers Influence Our Political System

The blue print of the democratic party!
Just amazing.... money plays a BIG part in poltics. 😝
 
while older, voting Republicans struggle just to survive.



elderly man paying bills - SevenPonds BlogSevenPonds Blog
 
The blue print of the democratic party!
Just amazing.... money plays a BIG part in poltics. 😝

I know money plays a part in UK politics but compared to how much money's in US politics we have laughably little.
Just the sheer cost of US political campaigns is insane even when you consider the vast size difference between the two countries.

UK politicians would almost literally kill someone to get the perks your guys get and they get paid a pittance by comparison.
I honestly think a US politician being made to campaign for a UK seat would instantly quit just at the sheer lack of funds and fundraising allowed here.
 
No----VOTERS tell the politicians what to think. Corporations don't cast ballots
I think you’re wrong. Both major parties owe their hearts and souls to corporations, wall street firms, lobbyist, special interests, super, mega, huge individual money donors. Although the OP is hitting the Republicans hard on this, in 2016,2018 and 2020 most of the super, mega, huge individual money went to the Democrats. Did you know 14 billion dollars was spent on the 2020 elections, that doesn’t count the 2 Georgia senate runoffs in January 2021 where over a billion plus was spent.

https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2020/10/cost-of-2020-election-14billion-update/

No, we voters are but pawns, a necessary evil in our political game. Pieces to be moved around the chessboard. These moneyed folks want us to think we have a choice, we choose, we decide, we don’t. With both major parties in the hip pockets of the moneyed elites, it really doesn’t matter who wins. Now why would these super rich individual money donors give their tens of millions of dollars to both political parties? They’re smart businessmen, they’re reward is much more than the cost of the investment they make in our politics. If these smart businessmen didn’t get a very good return for their investments, well donations, they wouldn’t invest.

Let’s face it, we have the best government money can buy.
 
it is STILL up to the voters. It is not the fault of the big money people that voters are fooled. Voters rarely take the time to know the issues = their fault
The super-rich are counting on people being so busy trying to pay for housing and food on the table + a life, that they won't have time to delve as deeply into politics as would be necessary for them to vote from a well-informed basis. Republicans absolutely COUNT on most of their voters being very poorly informed and (best case for them) being hopelessly misinformed and essentially voting on the basis of culture wars.

It is indeed the fault of each individual voter if they are voting on the basis of rumor and peer pressure. But the Republican party and the super rich are more to blame for exploiting that. It is precisely how the super-rich get what they want and the voters never do.
 
The blue print of the democratic party!
Just amazing.... money plays a BIG part in poltics. 😝
Big money donates to Republicans 4-1 over Democrats.

The best way to oppose the power of big money is to VOTE BLUE in 22.
 
From the link:

Krugman continues, “And then there’s the revolving door: it’s depressingly normal for former officials from both parties to take jobs with big banks, corporations and consulting firms. And the prospect of such employment can’t help but influence policy while they’re still in office.”


It is a little more complicated.
We, the people, can fix that. We need to make the American Anti Corruption Act an issue. We can't wait for the media to feature it. That is never going to happen until enough of we, the people, demand it.

Can we fix it right away? No.

Can we fix it through a long and determined effort to bring about change locally and build it from the grass roots all the way up to the national level? Yes, absolutely, we can do that.

Consider how long it took for women to get the right to vote. It will take a campaign like that to get the big money out of government. We should all support it and spread the word so our numbers grow until we have enough of America in agreement to bring about that well needed change. The real problem is that too many people simply don't think it can ever happen so they are not willing to try. Apathy is the real problem.

 
... he says while parroting Paul Krugman.

I guess using a source is now "parroting"? Source citation is the very essence of academic exercise. If you think the source is shit, explain why.
 
From the link:

Krugman continues, “And then there’s the revolving door: it’s depressingly normal for former officials from both parties to take jobs with big banks, corporations and consulting firms. And the prospect of such employment can’t help but influence policy while they’re still in office.”


It is a little more complicated.
That revolving door is a serious concern when it comes to determining what the priorities of elected officials actually are. Sure, we know they're in office to represent their constituents, but it's hard to eliminate the career advancement motive when the financial rewards of moving between the government and private sector are pretty lucrative.
 
If you honestly think corporations like Coca-Cola, Apple and Ford have no impact on politics then I question how much you take notice of global politics.
didn't say they didn't have 'impact'----------not their fault; that is on the voters who are too weak in the head to know better
 
I think you’re wrong. Both major parties owe their hearts and souls to corporations, wall street firms, lobbyist, special interests, super, mega, huge individual money donors. Although the OP is hitting the Republicans hard on this, in 2016,2018 and 2020 most of the super, mega, huge individual money went to the Democrats. Did you know 14 billion dollars was spent on the 2020 elections, that doesn’t count the 2 Georgia senate runoffs in January 2021 where over a billion plus was spent.
I said VOTERS, not "parties"
 
The super-rich are counting on people being so busy trying to pay for housing and food on the table + a life, that they won't have time to delve as deeply into politics as would be necessary for them to vote from a well-informed basis. Republicans absolutely COUNT on most of their voters being very poorly informed and (best case for them) being hopelessly misinformed and essentially voting on the basis of culture wars.

That was my point--------voters are at fault. Period.
It is indeed the fault of each individual voter if they are voting on the basis of rumor and peer pressure. But the Republican party and the super rich are more to blame for exploiting that. It is precisely how the super-rich get what they want and the voters never do.
 
while older, voting Republicans struggle just to survive.



elderly man paying bills - SevenPonds BlogSevenPonds Blog

Anyone who is struggling to survive and voting Republican is voting against their own better interest.


smh
 
If you honestly think corporations like Coca-Cola, Apple and Ford have no impact on politics then I question how much you take notice of global politics.
Right on.

The corporations get their way. Individuals are on their own. The only recourse in the USA is to support the Democratic Party. None of the other also-rans have a chance. Yes, it is true there are bad Democrats, some of them on the take. And they need to be replaced. But there is no hope of doing that nor creating majority of progressives as long as people keep buying in to the hype of the Republican party, favorite of the super-rich.

The thing to do is bring the Democratic Party into a majority and then push the Democratic party more progressive.
 
I think you’re wrong. Both major parties owe their hearts and souls to corporations, wall street firms, lobbyist, special interests, super, mega, huge individual money donors. Although the OP is hitting the Republicans hard on this, in 2016,2018 and 2020 most of the super, mega, huge individual money went to the Democrats. Did you know 14 billion dollars was spent on the 2020 elections, that doesn’t count the 2 Georgia senate runoffs in January 2021 where over a billion plus was spent.

https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2020/10/cost-of-2020-election-14billion-update/

No, we voters are but pawns, a necessary evil in our political game. Pieces to be moved around the chessboard. These moneyed folks want us to think we have a choice, we choose, we decide, we don’t. With both major parties in the hip pockets of the moneyed elites, it really doesn’t matter who wins. Now why would these super rich individual money donors give their tens of millions of dollars to both political parties? They’re smart businessmen, they’re reward is much more than the cost of the investment they make in our politics. If these smart businessmen didn’t get a very good return for their investments, well donations, they wouldn’t invest.

Let’s face it, we have the best government money can buy.

Agree with nearly all of that. Yes, I do place more emphasis on the Republican Party, and for good reason. Big money supports Republicans over Democrats 4:1. Yes, they did support more Dems in 2020 but that was the exception because Trump was so unpopular. Big money went against Trump in 2020 for the same reason big money went for him in 2016. They get what they want in the long run. They got their big tax cut and they knew there would not be another any time soon. Dems were poised to win in 2020, so they wanted to be able to call the shots there, too. And boy did that ever work out for them. Big money, big coal and fossil fuels supported Manchin and Sinema and they delivered, killing the Build Back Better Act.

Big money doesn't want the middle to thrive and prosper. Labor costs are lower when people and job applicants are more desperate.
 
Back
Top Bottom