4 ms·
I think much of Europe is looking at the US that way. It's mind blowing, especially how much it happens in the open. We have lots of corruption too, but it's mo
by skrebbel 8y ago
I think much of Europe is looking at the US that way. It's mind blowing, especially how much it happens in the open. We have lots of corruption too, but it's mostly hidden and if it gets out it's a scandal. In the US it appears to be just normal matter of fact stuff. Company funds politician; politician gets elected; favourable law gets passed; nobody bats an eye.
- rayiner 8y agoMuch of Europe must be very ignorant about American law then, because it is illegal here for companies to fund the election campaigns of candidates.
- geofft 8y agoAre you arguing that Google NetPAC giving money to candidates' election campaigns is in some meaningful way not Google giving money to candidates? If so, what is that meaningful way? (I realize that this is very different in a legal way, i.e., it would be illegal for money from Google to go to candidates without first being routed through employees' salaries and then to NetPAC, but because it is, it's quite legal and it's totally fine that donations from NetPAC are still decided by senior Google execs and the PAC represents itself to candidates as supporting Google's interests. I'm asking if this is different in a practical way.)
- JohnFen 8y agoThis is only kinda true. It's illegal for companies to fund the election campaigns of candidates above a certain dollar amount -- unless it's done the right way. Our system appears quite corrupt when it comes to bribery. That there are so many legal ways to do it (and not call it bribery) only underscores that.