|
Thom's blog
The Fatal Flaw with Democracy
Of all the depressing things to take away from last night’s elections – and believe me, there are many – the most depressing is probably the fact that we have outsourced our political process to factions. Actual candidates and actual campaigns no longer run the show; billionaires and dark money do.
In many of the closest congressional races across the country, outside groups – groups like Super PACs that aren’t officially connected to campaigns – actually outspent regular candidate campaigns. In North Carolina, for example, where Republican Thom Thillis beat out Democrat Kay Hagan in the most expensive senate race ever, outside groups spent $88 million while the Thillis and Hagan campaigns together only spent around $33 million. In Colorado, meanwhile, where Republican Cory Gardner beat out Democrat Mark Udall in the race that really sounded the death knell for Democrats, outside group spending tapped out around $81 million while regular campaign spending came in around $27 million.
It used to be that candidates had to work hard to raise money from everyday donors like you and me, but now, thanks to the Supreme Court, they don’t have to worry about that. The billionaires run their campaigns for them. And believe me, it really is the billionaires who are calling the shots.
As USA Today pointed out recently, 42 of the country’s richest people accounted for one-third of all Super PAC spending this election cycle. That’s right, 42 people!
-Thom
|
Tonight on The Big Picture on RT TV at 7pm and 10pm... The MidTerms Were all About the Keystone Pipeline (check your local listings for stations or stream at RT or Free Speech TV, and catch past shows on Youtube)
Screwed: The Investigation on Dark Money- Brendan Fischer, Center for Media and Democracy 
The Best of the Rest...
Daily Take: The Fatal Flaw with Democracy...
|
Wednesday's Daily Stack 
Hour One: The fatal flaw with democracy
Obama Should Not Accept ‘Lame Duck’ Status- John Nichols, The Nation Magazine
Hour Two: Thom takes your calls about election 2014
Article: " Constitution of the United States" Article 1, section 8. " The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; ..."
|
|
Thursday on The Thom Hartmann Program, 3-6pm ET
I'll be talking with America's Lawyer Mike Papantonio, Ring of Fire Radio about the issues of the day...
Plus I'll be getting consumer advocate Ralph Nader's reaction on the midterm elections.
And, the best of the rest of the news along with your calls right here on...
The Thom Hartmann Program, Occupying The Media 3 hours a day 5 days a week" for "we the people"
And don't forget...Democracy is NOT a spectator sport...it begins with you...
|
|
|
|
|
Thank you for being part of our ever growing community for News, Debate and Opinion on the Thom Hartmann Program.
Click here to subscribe to the Thom Hartmann Newsletter.
Sincerely,
The Thom Hartmann Program |
Thom and Louise Hartmann founded the New England Salem Children's Village (NESCV) in New Hampshire in 1979. With states delaying payment for the children they entrust to the village, they need help with cash flow. Can you help? Now on Facebook. |
|
|
|
Thom's Poll
Was political spending the reason Republicans took the Senate?
|
|
Watch & Listen to Thom
Watch the Full "Big Picture" Show...
Full Show 11/4/14: The Big Picture Election Night Special
Thom discusses the midterm elections with former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura, Economist Richard Wolff, the Drug Policy Alliance’s Gabriel Sayegh and RT Correspondents in key states throughout the country.
Obama Should Not Accept 'Lame Duck' Status
Brunch with Bernie - November 5, 2014
|
|
Show Info
Call Thom on the show at 1-866-987-THOM (8466) (0870 974 9686 from the UK).
Sign up for Thom's podcasts.
Come on over to the free chat room, where Thom hangs out during the show.
Join in the discussions on Thom's free message board.
Blog or upload videos or audios at Thom's community.
|
|
|
