Money is the Root of all Evil
Summary
In politics, it is indeed true that money is the root of all evil. The folks in Wisconsin's Clean Money campaign have done an exceptional job of pointing that out.
570 words
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by Eric Armstrong
The Wisconsin Clean Money Coalition may get this year's prize for succinct and precise. The said it all on their main page:
No matter what your core social or economic issue, you can almost always trace its roots to money in politics:
- High personal, sales and property taxes,
- Unwanted stadium taxes,
- Unaffordable health care costs,
- Poor health care coverage,
- Exorbitant prescription drug costs,
- Environmental pollution,
- Frivolous lawsuits,
- Unnecessary road construction,
- And other bad laws that transfer public assets to private interests.
Politicians need cash to get re-elected. Special interests need politicians to get laws passed. It’s a perfect match, but one costly to taxpayers and non-participating businesses and organizations.
The current system is broken, and it needn't be. We hope to influence its future direction.
WCEC is comprised of organizations and individuals concerned about the impact that our current moneyed political system has on the state’s citizens and taxpayers. Our goal is to promote elections that are both clean and fair to all parties and candidates
That says it all, and it does so very cleanly and evectively. The stakes though, are even higher than they realize. In the next 50 years, the world is facing increasing economic and environmental devastation that will reduce much of humanity to a state of corporate serfdom. Of course, there will be giant edifices we can all be proud of, and a select few at the top who are living very, very well. But woe to those who are not members of the economic elite.
The future that awaits humanity is being formulated here, in America, where the political system has given megalithic corporations virtually free reign to enact the laws that are creating an environment that is suitable for them--the corporations. Will it be livable for humans? To a degree, yes. Will it be the Eden on Earth we aspire to in our dreams? Not on your life. (For more, see the pdf, Taking the Money Out of Politics.)
About Eric Armstrong
Eric Armstrong is computer systems designer, writer, and philosopher. He is currently working on a book that uses the principles of General Systems Theory to explain how America's epidemic of obesity and disease stems from profitable, but unhealthy, ingredients in the food supply; how the corporate financial system (and our own retirement plans) are complicit in the problem; how the American political system allows it to happen; and how our problems with the environment, a dwindling standard of living, and even our problems with the global economy all stem from the same constellation of systemic interactions. At www.treelight.com/health, he focuses on nutrition and fitness. At www.citizensAdvisory.org, his forming non-profit is working to get the money out of politics. At www.artima.com/weblogs, he writes about software, web technology, and development tools.
About Citizens' Advisory
Corporate money has hijacked the ballot box. The Citizens' Advisory aims to take it back. Our goal is to put people in charge of the political process. The voting-advice system recommended by the Citizens Advisory lets people choose advisors they trust. Done right, that system will enable multi-party coalitions in cyberspace. The system appeals to voters because it's convenient. It appeals to social activists and their organizations because it levels the political playing the field and empowers them with a stronger political voice.
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