All About the Benjamins

In light of the Supreme Court's cavalier attitude regarding the influence of money on politics, one would expect that it plays little or no role in elections or public decision-making. And, of course, wone would be wrong.

Exhibit A: Any serious candidate for President in 2008 will need to raise around $100 million dollars to be competitive. Personal characteristics, issues, the state of the country - none of these things will matter unless the candidate has massive financial support before the campaign even begins. And if you think this phenomenon only occurs at the national level, I have a wonderful new erectile disfunction financial investment mortgage re-financing plan to offer you - all I need is your credit card number.

Exhibit B: The Republican Congress is shelving even the most nominal lobbying reform. A ton of scandals and indictments, the risk of losing Congress, and still they don't act. Are they stupid? Maybe. But their intellectual deficiencies probably have less to do with it than the fact that they can't raise the money to run for re-election if they can't find a way to keep corporate contributors (and their lobbyists) happy.

Boy, this sure is a healthy democracy, isn't it?