Since Our Politicians are Bought and Paid For

Elizabeth. What about her caused me, a lifelong Californian, to make my first ever political contribution? In 2012, Elizabeth Warren was a candidate running for senator in Massachusetts, up against Scott Brown, the Cosmo-centerfold handsome Tea Party candidate who somehow managed to win the seat vacated when Ted Kennedy died. The first time I saw her speak, on YouTube no less, I was sold. I even voted for the slogan that went on that shirt, “Elizabeth Warren, the best candidate that money can’t buy,” and I still wear it. She ended up raising more money than Brown ($42 vs 35m), with 80% of her donations being $50 or less. Her long history of research, teaching, and advocacy for fairness in banking and bankruptcy law made her a name hated by big banks. Her call for accountability for bailout money made the paid the lobbyists try even more to stop government oversight. From the underdog position, she won the support of the people, the workers, families, unions, and downtrodden, and won, 54-46. It wasn’t even close. But she won by getting everyone out to vote.

     Warren’s research showed that personal bankruptcies weren’t because people were deadbeats who bought stuff they couldn’t pay for, the stereotype put forth by banks when trying to toughen bankruptcy laws. Most often bankruptcies were for 3 main reasons: medical bills, divorce/death of spouse, or job loss. Furthermore, predatory lending dug those holes deeper. And WTF, the government loaning money to the banks interest-free, or at 1%, while students were being charged 8-9% interest on their loans???

     She’s not ready to be POTUS yet, but get a little foreign policy experience on that woman, and I’m in. She’s still a Washington outsider, though, and nowadays that’s a ticket to nowhere. She’s also not a great negotiator. She knows what’s right, and really isn’t interested in compromise... a lot like me! She’s responsible for the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, but could never be appointed its leader, because the Republicans (funded by the banks) would never allow it. 

     Warren’s book, A Fighting Chance, talks about Karl Rove and his Super PAC, American Crossroads. Although I knew from watching the Colbert Report that a Super PAC was a way to spend unlimited money on politics anonymously, I didn’t realize that it was a free pass to lie, and not ever be subject to libel or slander laws. Warren sums it up: “Rove is one of the wiliest political operators in the country. He had been the mastermind behind George W Bush’s two terms...” (pg 229). The donor list was secret, and the attack ads shameless. But Warren and Brown were able to get together and sign a pledge that they would discourage outside groups running ads by dipping into their own funds to make a donation to the charity of the other candidate’s choice every time it happened. And Rove was shut down. This was called the People’s Pledge. I wonder where Rove is spending his clients’ money now? Of course the TV stations are never going to turn down ad revenue. They don’t care if the ads are true or not. Profit is profit. 
     And so, with our crazy system, Republicans trying to undermine every single program for the less fortunate, spending inordinate time on trying to undo health coverage, fighting the president and the people on gun control (thanks, NRA for your purchase of politicians), recruiting the poor by telling them voting Republican is the only way to stop the baby-killers (abortion) or to stop the gays from their abominations, we're just sinking into a new low of dishonesty and corruption in politics. And Flint, Michigan? Enjoy your tainted water. Dishonesty, fraud and corruption is everywhere. Wake up, America!