The American political system (especially Congress) is very corrupt. This is due to the fact that it is almost impossible to be elected without raising a lot of money, and even harder to get reelected without doing so. This requires Congresspeople to spend a large fraction of their time contacting potential campaign contributors and convincing them to give money. It also makes them very very aware of which positions on which issues will bring in money. It also leads to large proportions of ex-Congresspeople and former Congressional staffers becoming (very well-paid) lobbyists.
And that because of this, nothing substantial to improve the current corporate/financial domination of American society can be done until the influence of money in politics is removed.
The poll statistics he quotes are worth noting:
1) 96 percent think that lessening the influence of money in politics is important.
2) 68 percent think that this is very important.
3) 91 percent think it's unlikely, and therefore not worth spending any effort on.
The American political system (especially Congress) is very corrupt. This is due to the fact that it is almost impossible to be elected without raising a lot of money, and even harder to get reelected without doing so. This requires Congresspeople to spend a large fraction of their time contacting potential campaign contributors and convincing them to give money. It also makes them very very aware of which positions on which issues will bring in money. It also leads to large proportions of ex-Congresspeople and former Congressional staffers becoming (very well-paid) lobbyists.
And that because of this, nothing substantial to improve the current corporate/financial domination of American society can be done until the influence of money in politics is removed.
The poll statistics he quotes are worth noting:
1) 96 percent think that lessening the influence of money in politics is important.
2) 68 percent think that this is very important.
3) 91 percent think it's unlikely, and therefore not worth spending any effort on.