Populist Reform of the Democratic Party

Tal Vez

(660 posts)

5. " We HAVE to get corporate money out of politics."

Sat Jul 9, 2016, 12:27 AM

Jul 2016

Jess Unruh was as leftist as any successful politician today. He was Speaker of the Assembly in California during the Sixties.
He was happy to take the money of corporate lobbyists. If he ever refused to take a contribution from someone, it was probably only because the contributor was a known criminal.

Jess used to say, "If you can't eat their food, drink their booze, screw their women, take their money and then vote against them you've got no business being up here."

The fact that a politician takes contributions from a corporate lobbyist does not mean that the politician has to dance to the lobbyist's tune. Sometimes, the lobbyists contribute with the hope that they might get favorable legislation and sometimes they contribute to avoid being punished for not contributing.

Don't accept excuses for poor votes by a politician.

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It's about numbers of votes and how to get them. [View all] merrily Jul 2016 OP

On the money, as it were pangaia Jul 2016 #1

. merrily Jul 2016 #2

Bookmarked to digest later, but thank you! silvershadow Jul 2016 #3

You're most welcome. merrily Jul 2016 #4

" We HAVE to get corporate money out of politics." Tal Vez Jul 2016 #5

But that's not how it works... We are an oligarchy the way it's going today. glowing Jul 2016 #6

Hstory shows that attempts to court big donations have taken the country in the direction merrily Jul 2016 #7

P.S. Unruh used his power over state pension funds to get Wall Street donations. merrily Jul 2016 #8

Pension funds have to be invested. Tal Vez Jul 2016 #9

Yes, they have to be invested, but they don't have to be traded for campaign donations. merrily Jul 2016 #10

I assume that you agree with me that it will be nice if someday campaigns will be publicly financed. Tal Vez Jul 2016 #11

Please see Reply 7. merrily Jul 2016 #12

I understand what you are saying, but we disagree. Tal Vez Jul 2016 #13

Please see Reply 7. merrily Jul 2016 #14

nice post merrily, well said. 2banon Jul 2016 #15

Thank you! Your post is more than relevant. It's very thoughtful. merrily Jul 2016 #16