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So, I got a very typical political email this morning that kind of (ok, really) made me grumpy. This is the essence of the email: "Hey, the Other Guys have raised GOSH TONS of money just last month! We raised some, but they raised more! They're WINNING the money war. I mean, it's not all about money, but it TOTALLY IS! GIVE US CASH NOW OR THEY'LL WIN!"
And you know what? I can't argue. Yeah, they probably will win. And it's not that I don't care - oh trust me, I care. I care deeply and passionately. I'm so angry that this is what it is, though, that all of politics now is just "who's got the cash". This is a losing proposition all around, fighting on these terms, engaging on these terms. Because real people always lose that game. If it's a money war, hey guess what, corporations are made to make money. They always win. A super PAC can contribute a helluva lot more to a campaign than any given person. Game over.
And I don't know what to do about any of it. Do I stop contributing to causes and candidates I support, because my money is useless against the onslaught of corporate money and because I don't want to participate in this crazy escalation of a system I think sucks? That doesn't seem helpful. I can't exactly blame My Guys for trying to do what's effective - I've certainly learned that elections can (and are) bought, and they've learned too. Yay? I'm frustrated. I'm a member of United Republic. I'm on all kinds of mailing lists. I know that the process of getting money out of politics is a long, slow, hard slog. But right this instant I am stomping my little feet and I want change now dammit.
And you know what? I can't argue. Yeah, they probably will win. And it's not that I don't care - oh trust me, I care. I care deeply and passionately. I'm so angry that this is what it is, though, that all of politics now is just "who's got the cash". This is a losing proposition all around, fighting on these terms, engaging on these terms. Because real people always lose that game. If it's a money war, hey guess what, corporations are made to make money. They always win. A super PAC can contribute a helluva lot more to a campaign than any given person. Game over.
And I don't know what to do about any of it. Do I stop contributing to causes and candidates I support, because my money is useless against the onslaught of corporate money and because I don't want to participate in this crazy escalation of a system I think sucks? That doesn't seem helpful. I can't exactly blame My Guys for trying to do what's effective - I've certainly learned that elections can (and are) bought, and they've learned too. Yay? I'm frustrated. I'm a member of United Republic. I'm on all kinds of mailing lists. I know that the process of getting money out of politics is a long, slow, hard slog. But right this instant I am stomping my little feet and I want change now dammit.
