by Bill McCabe as published in The Hudson Valley News 10/27/10
The US Chamber of Commerce, which backed the Citizens United Supreme Court Suit of last January, has contributed $75,000,000 this year to defeat incumbent Democrats in Congress. The Supreme Court decision, which declared that corporations are legal “persons,” has compounded the horrendous influence of money in American elections. Corporate donations are now unlimited and can remain anonymous – unlike the donations of ordinary New Yorkers, who must abide by campaign limits and must report all contributions of $100 or more.
According to recent articles in the NY Times, newly formed organizations like The American Future Fund and Karl Rove’s American Crossroads have attracted an additional $50 million-plus in anonymous corporate donations to fund negative ads specifically designed to defeat Congressional Democrats. The profits and the bonuses of corporate executives and Wall Street investment bankers seem unaffected by the recession, and they are spending heavily and anonymously to influence the 2010 elections.
The US Chamber of Commerce, which has members from around the world and used to have an image of being non-partisan (an image that continues for local affiliates), has admitted its $75 million in political donations to finance attack ads and glossy mailings that vilify and demean Democrats in Congress. The Chamber refuses to disclose its member list (US and foreign), will not identify where the $75 million originally came from, and will not identify the contributors to the fund. Since the foreign and domestic funds of the Chamber are comingled, it appears that foreign interests may be influencing US elections. According to the Citizens United decision, the corporate and individual donors to the Chamber’s 501(c) campaign account can remain anonymous. The Chamber and other groups working to return control of Congress to the Republicans have bitterly, and so far successfully, fought off all efforts in Congress to require disclosure of political donations for all, including corporate donations.
November’s election should not be an “Auction to the Highest Bidder”; this should be an ELECTION BY THE PEOPLE. Congressmen John Hall has worked diligently on behalf of veterans, Congressman Maurice Hinchey has championed an Amendment to the 2002 Energy Act to re-instate compliance by gas and oil companies to the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts , and Congressman Scott Murphy has stood up for small businesses and an end to outsourcing by US companies. They are diligently working to advance America’s economic recovery and reduce unemployment. Congressmen Hall, Hinchey, and Murphy understand that as Americans we all have a responsibility to our country as well as to our families and ourselves. Do not believe the anonymous distortions being thrown at them.
The original Boston Tea Party was held by patriots who objected to England’s giving tax advantages to the East India Company, another example of corporate welfare. These taxes were then imposed by England on the colonists, who had no direct vote in the selection of their rulers.
In our country we have a choice. Our Democrats in Congress have worked honestly to tackle the problems and not to filibuster or just say NO.
So when the Democrats slapped down the credit card cowboys and demanded that card holders be given clear and stable interest rates, most Americans cheered.
When student loans for higher education were drying up and Democrats made these loans directly available to students at reasonable rates, most Americans cheered.
When a war based on false information finally began to wind down with the withdrawal of American troops, most Americans cheered.
When Democrats began to replace fossil fuel oil industry welfare supports with seed money for clean energy innovation, most Americans cheered.
When veteran care, which had suffered from negligence and mismanagement, was investigated and improved, most Americans cheered.
When President Obama and Democrats passed reforms to control the excesses of Wall Street investment bankers, most Americans cheered.
When returning veterans were openly honored, most Americans cheered.
When Democrats passed legislation requiring insurance companies to stop dropping coverage for patients with serious diseases, to offer coverage to those with pre-conditions, and to extend family coverage for young people into their 20’s, most Americans cheered.
When the free fall of the economy ended and jobs slowly began to be added, most Americans cheered.
When President Obama and the Democratic Congress passed tax cuts for 95% of working families, most Americans cheered.
And about taxes: nobody enjoys paying them, but here are some facts:
The federal tax rate during both terms of the Eisenhower Administration was 91% for the wealthiest Americans.
Under President Nixon the wealthiest were taxed at 70%.
Under President Reagan the wealthiest were taxed at 50%.
Under President Clinton the wealthiest were taxed at 39.6%.
President George W. Bush steered the nation into six years of war, spent the Clinton era surplus, and reduced taxes for the wealthiest to 35%.
In 2010 Republicans threatened a filibuster in the Senate to keep the wealthiest 2% from having their tax rate return to 39.6% (at a cost of $700 billion over 10 years).
We all know that we are not “there” yet. We have much work to do to restore our economic vibrancy. We can move forward with Congressmen Hall, Hinchey, and Murphy, or risk regression and negativity from their opponents, who want to privatize Social Security, protect the wealthy, and undo the benefits of Health Insurance Reform. We have a choice. Vote for solutions; vote for Congressmen Hall, Hinchey, and Murphy.
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