Ever felt like your voice doesn't matter in politics? It's not just you. The U. S. is seeing a dramatic increase in money influencing elections, thanks to a 2010 Supreme Court decision. This decision allowed rich people and businesses to spend unlimited amounts on campaigns, a move that's changed the political landscape.
Imagine this: spending on congressional candidates has skyrocketed from around $204 million in 2010 to a whopping $4 billion today. And for the 2024 presidential election, spending is estimated to hit nearly $16 billion, which is three times what was spent in 2000.
You might be wondering why politicians talk so much about topics that don't really affect the rich, like diversity, equity, and inclusion, or even abortion and school prayer. But when it comes to real issues like inflation, insurance problems, or even the frustrating customer service experiences we all face, who's talking about that?
Powerful companies are pouring money into political campaigns, making them even more powerful. They're not afraid to use this power to make our lives harder. Just think about insurance claims, airline trips, or even streaming services that keep adding commercials. Who's standing up to them?
The good news is, there are ways to stop them. Agencies like the Federal Trade Commission have the power to use antitrust laws against these companies. States and consumers can also take action. But the bad news is, our democratic institutions are being clogged with money, making it hard to get anything done.
So, what can we do? We need to reduce the influence of the wealthy on our government. This means rethinking those Supreme Court rulings that allow unlimited spending. And we need to use the consumer laws we have to get real results in court. It's not easy, but it's a start.
