Wealthy Billionnaires Corrupting US Political
Thomas Hartmann talks about the undermining of democracy given the influence of wealthy billionaires on the political process to serve their own interests rather than the public interest. Why does this matter? The political process is cited to represent the people.
William A Clarke is interesting paying for popularity the initial seed funder to become a Senator. Apparently he handed out $1,000 to people of influence as brazen bribery. Mark Twain stated: “he is as rotton a human being… he is a shame to the American nation… his proper place in the penitentiary with a ball and chain…”
He speaks of the Koch Brothers, a few points:
- worth $68 billion driving forces behind corruption of democracy
- 1998-2008 Koch foundations gave $168 million to organisations that favour policies that benefit them
- Same time period Koch Industries (owned by brothers) spent $50 million lobbying, $8 million PAC contributions;
- Behind groups like Americans for Prosperity, Freedom Works which give both major financial support to Koch head Tea Party movement
- Freedom Partners Koch affiliated organisation dolled out grants worth $230 million to variety conservative organisations, tea party groups and front groups that oppose Obamacare
- Keystone XL Pipeline, funded lobbies, lawmakers etc
- Fossil fuel industries largest donors
- 2010 $300,000 to House Energy and Commerce Committee, overseas Keystone pipeline
- $60 million to groups that deny climate change
- International Forum on Globalisation – Koch make $100 billion in profits if Keystone XL pipeline is approved (they are worth $68 billion). They hold up to 2 million acres of land in Alberta Canada which is the starting point of the pipeline. subsidiaries make millions in making the pipeline.
Some additional references:
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-39381324
Environmental impact: https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/keystone-xl-pipeline-environment-trump-judge-a8627121.html
Quote out of the above reference “Secretary of State Rex Tillerson recused himself from the matter because of his previous role as chief executive of ExxonMobil….” I found that interesting given XL
I can understand now why there is a desire to remove governments. There are laws to prevent dissent e.g. sedition etc. However, what is interesting is that it is wealthy right wing industrialists who desire to remove government as an impediment to their interests. So do governments look at that or do they look at small activist groups calling them radical. I would suggest extremists are most definitely reflected in extreme political views that want no government at all, that do not care at all for how these decisions impact the masses. This I feel is how power corrupts and absolute power corrupts.
Meaning: The proverbial saying ‘power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely’ conveys the opinion that, as a person’s power increases, their moral sense diminishes.
How does this impact Australia? US politics are directly influencing politics here. So this is the future for us. Yet we cannot vote them out. That is how foreign interference is undemocratic and can encourage corruption of democracy.
The video is posted here. Note the link to movetoamend.org
Thom Hartmann https://www.thomhartmann.com/