The Great 28 Debate To Get Money Out of Politics
December 2, 2011We throw a lot of numbers around on this program, but the next one is perhaps the most important we will focus on around this year (and into 2012) is the number 28. No matter how the final version gets done, we hope that the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution will get the destructive influence of money out of our political system for good.
A few things of note this week: every single Presidential candidate now has a Super PAC. This allows candidates to raise piles of cash for their campaigns in secret, to manipulate voters and promote legislation that keeps them in power. Now, Senator Mike Lee wants to add a Super PAC element to his leadership PAC. This means he would be able to raise unlimited secret corporate cash and spread that money around (as a bundler) to other campaigns as well.
Citizens United, obviously, was the gateway to all of this. The fallout that resulted has brought us the most important debate of our time, ”The Great 28 Debate.”
So, what are the foundations of that debate? It’s pretty simple — we’re asking two basic questions heading into The Great 28 Debate. First, is money speech? And secondly, are corporations people? (The correct answer to both of these questions, if you’re wondering, is “no.”)
Clarence Page recently joined The Dylan Ratigan Show to discuss the issue of money and politics. Check out the video here:
