WASHINGTON, D.C. —
The fiscal cliff debacle is the most recent example of a money-laden political system yelping for help. Partisan politics has proliferated while funding for campaigns has reached historic highs.
The result: A battered and broken system failing basic tests of government.
Take the financial sector, front and center stars of the fiscal cliff discussion. When politicians were at odds over the plan’s details, the giddy-up, go-to was for financial sector CEOs to exert pressure on Congress. That’s a lot of clout, and here’s why they have it:
One — the financial sector contributed $573 million to those running for federal elective office this last cycle. That’s way more than any other sector.
Two — on lobbying, they also top the list, spending close to $500 million in 2011. This allows them a whopping 10 lobbyists for each member of Congress.
Ya think they hold sway? Duh!
And, three — as the economy, families and businesses suffered from the financial sector-induced recession, and after large financial firms received $400 billion in a taxpayer-funded bailout, guess which sector has profited most? Shocker: the financial sector. In fact, every quarter since late 2008, they’ve done better than others, by a wide margin. In the third quarter of 2012, they produced $510 billion in profits, out-pacing the next closest sector, manufacturing, by $142 billion.
That math may all add up for the financial sector. After all, they have been working since 2010 to chip away at the Dodd-Frank financial reform law as regulators are implementing the measure. But it sure isn’t adding up for Americans who “... ain’t got the do re mi.”
Money in politics has helped propel polar opposite partisan positions. In order to get campaign cash, best to take extreme positions and stick to them (creating many crankcase politicians), regardless of the cost to the nation.
In 2002, Sens. John McCain and Russ Feingold made the system better by limiting the influence of money in campaigns. That made some difference, but a later Supreme Court decision (Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission) created a humongous hole in reforms when it was determined that free speech meant people could spend whatever they liked to voice their political views. You want to spend a gazillion? Go right ahead.
To understand the result of that, we need to look no further than the fiscal cliff mess. It symbolizes the quandary in which we find ourselves on many issues, and will until we limit money in politics. The kicker: That will take an act of Congress.
BART CHILTON is a commissioner on the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the author of “Ponzimonium: How Scam Artists Are Ripping Off America.” Readers may write to him at: CFTC, Three Lafayette Centre, 1155 21st St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20581; website: www.cftc.gov. This essay was distributed by McClatchy-Tribune News Service.
Opinion
Money and politics — a cliff note
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