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MONEY IN POLITICS/CAMPAIGN REFORM
Problem
American democracy is being auctioned off, and working people are shut out of the bidding.
How money controls the system
$16.7 billion spent on the 2022 midterm elections — the most expensive in history
2024 spending projected at over $20 billion
The top 0.01% of donors account for most contributions.
Billionaires and corporations now hold more political power than millions of voters combined.
Super PACs & dark money run the game
After Citizens United, Super PAC spending went from near zero to $3B per cycle.
Dark-money nonprofits hide donor identities behind shell groups.
Special interests can dump unlimited cash into races with no accountability.
Corporate PACs write the agenda
Corporate lobbyists push:
Deregulation
Anti-union law
Defense contracts
Privatized healthcare
Fossil fuel subsidies
For every $1 Congress spends studying policy, corporate lobbyists spend $34 to control or kill it.
Foreign-aligned donor networks distort elections
AIPAC and allied PACs spend tens of millions in primaries to defeat progressives
Outside money drowns out local voters and community campaigns.
Congress is fundraising, not legislating
Members are expected to spend 30–70% of work time dialing for dollars — not writing laws, serving constituents, or providing oversight.
Mega donors veto public opinion
Even policies with 70–80% support die if they threaten corporate wealth:
Universal healthcare
Climate regulation
Union protections
Billionaire tax
Affordable housing
Price controls on drugs
Money drowns out votes. Democracy is collapsing under its weight.
Solutions
1. Ban Corporate PAC Money & Close Dark-Money Loopholes
Policy:
Ban corporate PAC donations outright
Require full disclosure of donors behind:
Dark-money nonprofits
501(c)(4)s
Shell LLCs
Pass-through PAC networks
Ban elected officials from owning corporate stock
Strengthen FEC enforcement and penalties.
Impact: Corporate influence shrinks, Community power grows.
2. Reverse Citizens United & Limit Billionaire Control
Policy:
Pass constitutional amendments affirming:
Money ≠ speech
Corporations ≠ people
Reinstate federal spending caps.
Ban Super PAC coordination
Cap mega-donor influence
Impact: Shifts the focus of democracy to citizens, making outcomes reflect public will, not billionaire preferences.
3. Publicly Fund Elections
Policy:
Build national small-donor matching systems
(turn $20 into $120)Create Democracy Dollar–style voucher programs.
Provide public funds for viable candidates who reject corporate money.
Block outside spending for publicly funded campaigns.
Impact: Lowers barriers for working people and underrepresented groups so they can run and win, expanding participation.
4. End the Lobbying Revolving Door
Policy:
10-year ban on former lawmakers becoming lobbyists
Ban corporate lobbyist donations and bundling.
Block federal contractors from giving political contributions.
Public database of all lobbyist meetings
Impact: Policy is shaped by people — not profit pipelines
5. Protect Voting Power Against Suppression
Policy:
Automatic voter registration at age 18
Restore voting rights to formerly incarcerated people.
Ban voter-roll purges without due process.
National vote-by-mail protection
Make Election Day a holiday.
Protect election workers from harassment.
Require paper ballot auditing.
Impact: Voters — not donors — drive outcomes
Bottom Line
America doesn’t lack democracy — America lacks real access to democracy.
Right now:
Billionaires choose candidates
Corporations shape laws
PACs decide who wins.
Lobbyists write the rules.
Public opinion is ignored.
Working people get shut out.
Fixing this is simple:
Cut corporate PACs out.
Stop dark money
Publicly fund campaigns
End billionaire gatekeeping
Protect voting access
When elections are by the people, the results serve the people.
Money built the mess — But voters can take the mic back.