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I really don't get the money side of US politics. How do these companies use money (presumably) do sway politicians? Just openly contribute to individual politi

I really don't get the money side of US politics. How do these companies use money (presumably) do sway politicians? Just openly contribute to individual politicians/think tanks/PACs? How do they launder the money Is that what the PACs do? Make sure Joe Politican can get the money, but isn't seen handed a bag of cash from a company? Or is it simply that accepting campaign donations from corporations isn't seen as corruption by voters, so politicans can do it in the open?

bingidingi 5y ago
Here's one example: I've called my congressman to complain about his support for the Taxpayer First Act (which enables Intuit), his campaign received $16k from Intuit and H&R block. They spent a combined $6 million or so on lobbying to get it passed. The act, among other things, removed the requirement for the IRS to report on their development of return-free tax filing. Direct PAC donations are allowed up to $5k. Super PACs are meant to be independent, can't work directly with politicians or campaigns... and therefore have to such limits. They're very often used for "indirect" lobbying. It's a scam and everyone knows it. The people empowered by the scam are the only ones who can change it.
SamBam 5y ago
It's utterly insane. It's insane how much influence money can have on politics, when it's basically entirely spent on election campaigns. (And some fancy fund-raising dinners, and stuff, but I think that is less important.) It's insane that election campaigns are such an important and expensive part of politics. Accepting millions of dollars, and for what? To keep your job for another few years. Where the biggest part of your job is getting more money for the next campaign to keep it for another few years. Real campaign finance reform could do so much.
- nightski 5y ago
  I'm not sure the money always even ends up in the hands of the politicians themselves. It's the unreasonable effectiveness of advertising. Honestly it probably mostly ends up in the hands of SV.

bingidingi 5y ago

Here's one example: I've called my congressman to complain about his support for the Taxpayer First Act (which enables Intuit), his campaign received $16k from Intuit and H&R block. They spent a combined $6 million or so on lobbying to get it passed. The act, among other things, removed the requirement for the IRS to report on their development of return-free tax filing. Direct PAC donations are allowed up to $5k. Super PACs are meant to be independent, can't work directly with politicians or campaigns... and therefore have to such limits. They're very often used for "indirect" lobbying. It's a scam and everyone knows it. The people empowered by the scam are the only ones who can change it.

SamBam 5y ago

It's utterly insane. It's insane how much influence money can have on politics, when it's basically entirely spent on election campaigns. (And some fancy fund-raising dinners, and stuff, but I think that is less important.) It's insane that election campaigns are such an important and expensive part of politics. Accepting millions of dollars, and for what? To keep your job for another few years. Where the biggest part of your job is getting more money for the next campaign to keep it for another few years. Real campaign finance reform could do so much.

nightski 5y ago
I'm not sure the money always even ends up in the hands of the politicians themselves. It's the unreasonable effectiveness of advertising. Honestly it probably mostly ends up in the hands of SV.