(Photo: Stephen Melkisethian/flickr/cc)
Nov 12, 2016
In one of Agatha Christie's murder mysteries, the key clue that solved the whodunit wasn't something that happened, but something that didn't -- specifically, a dog that didn't bark.
That plot fits one of the great mysteries of this year's Trump-Clinton race for president: There was no barking at the democracy-murdering power of big corporate money in our politics.
Record expenditures of at least $6.6 billion flooded into this national election, most of it from a handful of plutocratic interests blatantly buying controlling shares of the White House and Congress.
That's why a phenomenal 78 percent of the public is united in support of overturning the Supreme Court's disastrous Citizens United decision. That ruling opened the floodgates to this corrupting torrent of cash, producing public policies that profit corporations at the expense of the common good.
With so much at stake and such overwhelming public agreement for stopping this wholesale purchase of America's democracy, how odd that neither major candidate barked much at Citizens United.
Of course, what we have here is a neon example of the political cowardice created by the politics of Big Money.
Hillary Clinton relied heavily on Super PAC and Wall Street funding for her campaign. And The Donald, who started out bragging about being rich enough to self-finance his run, has in fact been backed by millions of dollars from sleazy billionaire oligarchs like casino baron Sheldon Adelson.
Rather than running on this fundamental issue of democratic power, the two top candidates ran from it. But they can't hide from it.
This is a "We the People" moment when the grassroots bipartisan majority must take charge from craven politicos -- not only barking ferociously at them, but also biting them. To join the effort, go to www.DemocracyIsForPeople.org.
Join Us: News for people demanding a better world
Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place. We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference. Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. Join with us today! |
This column was distributed by OtherWords.
Jim Hightower
Jim Hightower is a national radio commentator, writer, public speaker, and author of the books "Swim Against The Current: Even A Dead Fish Can Go With The Flow" (2008) and "There's Nothing in the Middle of the Road But Yellow Stripes and Dead Armadillos: A Work of Political Subversion" (1998). Hightower has spent three decades battling the Powers That Be on behalf of the Powers That Ought To Be - consumers, working families, environmentalists, small businesses, and just-plain-folks.
campaign financecitizens unitedcorporate powerelection 2016hillary clintonjim hightowersuper pacstrumpism
In one of Agatha Christie's murder mysteries, the key clue that solved the whodunit wasn't something that happened, but something that didn't -- specifically, a dog that didn't bark.
That plot fits one of the great mysteries of this year's Trump-Clinton race for president: There was no barking at the democracy-murdering power of big corporate money in our politics.
Record expenditures of at least $6.6 billion flooded into this national election, most of it from a handful of plutocratic interests blatantly buying controlling shares of the White House and Congress.
That's why a phenomenal 78 percent of the public is united in support of overturning the Supreme Court's disastrous Citizens United decision. That ruling opened the floodgates to this corrupting torrent of cash, producing public policies that profit corporations at the expense of the common good.
With so much at stake and such overwhelming public agreement for stopping this wholesale purchase of America's democracy, how odd that neither major candidate barked much at Citizens United.
Of course, what we have here is a neon example of the political cowardice created by the politics of Big Money.
Hillary Clinton relied heavily on Super PAC and Wall Street funding for her campaign. And The Donald, who started out bragging about being rich enough to self-finance his run, has in fact been backed by millions of dollars from sleazy billionaire oligarchs like casino baron Sheldon Adelson.
Rather than running on this fundamental issue of democratic power, the two top candidates ran from it. But they can't hide from it.
This is a "We the People" moment when the grassroots bipartisan majority must take charge from craven politicos -- not only barking ferociously at them, but also biting them. To join the effort, go to www.DemocracyIsForPeople.org.
Jim Hightower
Jim Hightower is a national radio commentator, writer, public speaker, and author of the books "Swim Against The Current: Even A Dead Fish Can Go With The Flow" (2008) and "There's Nothing in the Middle of the Road But Yellow Stripes and Dead Armadillos: A Work of Political Subversion" (1998). Hightower has spent three decades battling the Powers That Be on behalf of the Powers That Ought To Be - consumers, working families, environmentalists, small businesses, and just-plain-folks.
In one of Agatha Christie's murder mysteries, the key clue that solved the whodunit wasn't something that happened, but something that didn't -- specifically, a dog that didn't bark.
That plot fits one of the great mysteries of this year's Trump-Clinton race for president: There was no barking at the democracy-murdering power of big corporate money in our politics.
Record expenditures of at least $6.6 billion flooded into this national election, most of it from a handful of plutocratic interests blatantly buying controlling shares of the White House and Congress.
That's why a phenomenal 78 percent of the public is united in support of overturning the Supreme Court's disastrous Citizens United decision. That ruling opened the floodgates to this corrupting torrent of cash, producing public policies that profit corporations at the expense of the common good.
With so much at stake and such overwhelming public agreement for stopping this wholesale purchase of America's democracy, how odd that neither major candidate barked much at Citizens United.
Of course, what we have here is a neon example of the political cowardice created by the politics of Big Money.
Hillary Clinton relied heavily on Super PAC and Wall Street funding for her campaign. And The Donald, who started out bragging about being rich enough to self-finance his run, has in fact been backed by millions of dollars from sleazy billionaire oligarchs like casino baron Sheldon Adelson.
Rather than running on this fundamental issue of democratic power, the two top candidates ran from it. But they can't hide from it.
This is a "We the People" moment when the grassroots bipartisan majority must take charge from craven politicos -- not only barking ferociously at them, but also biting them. To join the effort, go to www.DemocracyIsForPeople.org.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.