The Role of Money in Politics

The role of money in politics tops the selection (72% of over 5,000 surveyed) by U.S. citizens of ‘very big problems.’ The rapid and enormous increase of money in politics is irrefutable. The primary cause of this rise began when the Supreme Court Citizens United decision in 2010. It has led to elected officials now being selected and elected by the ultra-wealthy. This has resulted in the elected officials being unresponsive to the vast majority of the U.S. citizens. That is why this problem, which is clearly understood by the elected officials, is not being addressed. They answer to the billionaires and corporations that got them in and keep them in office.

Corporations are getting oversight and restrictions lifted such as environmental protections, and the wealthiest are receiving enormous tax cuts while the government talks of cutting social security. Such actions have accelerated the obscene chasm between the ultra-rich and the rest of us. The wealthiest 10% now account for 67.2% of the national wealth. Getting elected and staying in office is primarily determined by which candidate has the most money to promote their messages and tear down their opponent. In 2024, approximately 94% of U.S. House races and 88% of Senate races were won by the top spending candidates. Unseating incumbents typically requires the opponent to significantly out-spend the incumbent, which is what occurred in 2024 to further solidify the majority party’s lead. A few select billionaires are purchasing the government they want to get what they want. These actions are NOT democratic. Our nation must return to a true democracy based on ‘We the People, where the word ‘people’ is describing all U.S. citizens, not the wealthiest few and large corporations.

Note: The references below address the results of citizen survey highlighting the concern for money in politics, document the growth of money in politics, where the funding is coming from, the impacts to our democracy, the primary cause of the problem, and recommended approaches to address the current situation.

References:

•   Facts about Americans view of money in politics - https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/10/23/7-facts-about-americans-views-of-money-in-politics/

•   Documentation of money in politics over time and where it comes from - www.opensecrets.org/outside-spending/  Select the “By Cycle” “Super PACs” “Top Donors” and “Donor Stats” tabs

•   The rapid growth in the inequitable distribution of wealth correlating clearly with the Citizens United decision in 2010 - https://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/z1/dataviz/dfa/distribute/chart/#quarter:141;series:Net

•   Chart showing the percentage of political races won by the top spending candidate - www.opensecrets.org/elections-overview/winning-vs-spending

•   How the Citizens United Supreme Court decision defined the 2024 election - https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/fifteen-years-later-citizens-united-defined-2024-election

•   Reforming money in politics - https://www.brennancenter.org/issues/reform-money-politics

•   Constitutional amendment options - https://citizenstakeaction.org/the-problem/  https://citizenstakeaction.org/the-solution/  https://americanpromise.net/our-plan/