NY Times Editorial: Bernie Sanders’s Small-Beer Donors in the Big Money Casino

[LiberalElite]

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/28/opinion/bernie-sanderss-small-beer-donors-in-the-big-money-casino.html

-snip-
As a measure of democracy, one of the more encouraging statistics of the 2016 presidential race is the fact that the average contribution to the long-shot campaign of Senator Bernie Sanders is $31.30. It would be hard to buy any politician for $31.30. That is exactly the message Mr. Sanders intends, in renouncing fat-cat, super PAC campaigning that is turning American politics into an exercise in plutocracy.

Americans of ordinary means have made 400,000 donations — about 80 percent of them were $200 or less — to Mr. Sanders. Contrast that with the appalling fact that fewer than 400 of the nation’s most affluent families, writing six- and seven-figure checks, account for almost half the money raised so far by both parties in the campaign, according to an analysis by The Times.
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[sabrina 1]

1. I can't believe the insiders haven't got it yet. That Money in Politics is going to be the #1 Issue

of this campaign.

Up to now, it was not a major issue. Both parties preferred not to make it an issue.

But OWS brought the corrupting effects of money on our system into the conversation and shined a light on why things are as bad as they are when we could be such a great country.

Not so long ago I remember Dems actually boasting about how much money they were getting.

And for a while, people though uneasy about it, were kind of buying into what they were being told, that 'we have to accept big donations, because if we don't Republicans will win'.

Biden said recently that this is BS. And I agree.

[passiveporcupine]

3. Unfortunately, there are many who still feel this way

And for a while, people though uneasy about it, were kind of buying into what they were being told, that 'we have to accept big donations, because if we don't Republicans will win'.

Or is it cognitive dissonance? They cannot win without the money, so it must be necessary? They have had to convince themselves of this, so thoroughly...they have to also believe there is no way Bernie can win.

Let's prove them wrong.

[sabrina 1]

4. Bernie is proving them wrong. And Biden said that to say 'we can't disarm' from the money

because the others are going to take it, is wrong. I agree. He says the Dem Party has to lead the way to end what he called the 'corrosive effects of money on our system of government'.

Imagine if they all joined Bernie, if the Dem Party MADE it a huge issue, then USED it against the Republicans. Every change they get they talk about how Republicans are being bought by special interests which is why they do not care about the people and want to do things like cut SS and other benefits.

But because they are taking it, they can't use it.

And it is a fantastic issue to use, since over 80% of the population wants it out of our politics, Repubs, Dems alike.

So why WON'T they take this issue, make a public show of refusing money, as Bernie is, explaining how corrupting it is, using examples of the votes of candidates who take this money?

They COULD, if they lived by their words and refused it, but they won't. Maybe it is just too tempting.

[passiveporcupine]

5. First job is trying to talk Clinton into doing that...giving up her huge donations

NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! And the repubs know they cannot run against Clinton without a lot of money. What they don't understand is that the guy who is not running on big donations, may just steal the show right out from under everyone. Because this IS what the people want.

And people are ready to listen and understand that democratic socialism is NOT a dirty word(s).

[JDPriestly]

2. K&R. A vote for Sanders says to big money, "Stay out."

A vote for anyone else tells big money to "Stay in."

It's as simple as that.

I want the big money out. Who knows where it really come from?

The Superpacs and fat-cats don't even have to tell us what country or corporation or drug or weapons trading the money comes from. We have utterly no way of knowing who is behind the candidates who have the big money. No way.

[merrily]

6. Bernie Sanders: In the pocket of Big Voter since his 10 vote Mayoral victory in 1981!

Save your pennies for the September 8 Bernie's birthday money bomb. Make it good!

Make sure everyone in social media knows about it. Facebook, tweet, instatagram.