Republican sycophants gathered at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas to audition for Sheldon Adelson’s political support only a few days before the U.S. Supreme Court published its opinion in the McCutcheon case. The 5-4 decision lifted any restrictions on the amount of money an individual can contribute in an election cycle. Adelson had reportedly contributed $93 million in the 2012 presidential campaign, and potential candidates for 2016 were seeking his financial support.
Adelson being in the market for a new candidate to buy and the Supreme Court reduction of political contribution limits provided a convergence of the two events that made it easier for Americans to visualize the monetization of the voting process. From the days of the Founding Fathers, voting was considered to be a privilege of white men of means. Former male slaves did not get the right to vote until 1870 and women, both white and black, were barred from the polls until 1920.
Conservatives are now somewhat accommodating for blacks and women who become affluent, but they have never relented in their political oppression of the poor. The wealthy are concerned this group has a natural interest in supporting costly government programs. The conservative’s strategy is to provide funds to finance disinformation in order to confuse political issues, as well as to obstruct the process of voting for the poor.
Those with limited wealth must rethink the American Dream and fight to secure their political interests. Otherwise, the American Dream will be available only to a few.
