I was minding my own business trying to watch some football and the MLB playoffs on a family visit to North Carolina this weekend, and boom, on comes yet another round of Texas Senate ads.
Absolutely! I ran for the Democratic nomination for Congress in Minnesota CD2 this year in the primary. I wasted $200,000 of my own money because I hated to ask other people for money. And I held my nose to run as a Democrat as a less awful choice than the Republican party, and I tried to avoid saying that I thought we should enforce our immigration laws, because that is unpopular with Democrats, or that the COVID lockdowns were the worst public policy disaster in US history, excluding slavery and legalized segregation, because Democrats really loved the COVID lockdowns. I campaigned mostly by text and made the mistake of making specific proposals, such as cutting income taxes and payroll taxes in half and replacing that revenue with a wealth tax of 2% to 8% on multimillionaires and billionaires, or a progressive tax on corporate revenue and profit to induce our giant corporations to voluntarily split up and compete and revive capitalism. Instead I should have given vague platitudes, like that "I want to cut the price of groceries," with no proposal of how that could happen. For my trouble, I got 2% of the vote.
The political parties are not our government. They are special interests that have stolen our governments from us. And then they beg money from us so they can do it to us some more.
Well I can help you out in trying to figure out what Democrats or Republicans will do when they control congress after the election. Absolutely nothing, same as always. Of course I don't follow politics for a living, and there is always the outside chance that they will come up with ways to make life worse.
I keep seeing ads for Talarico while watching movies on Tubi. Really strange, as I live in New Mexico. Haven't seen any for any other out of state politician (though the Dems are running a lot of negative ads for in-state races).
This petulant post of mine wound up garnering exponentially more "likes" than anything I've ever posted. The constant spamming is really hitting a nerve among folks who don't appreciate being treated like ATMs. https://substack.com/@ericaetelson/note/c-348005558
Politics is a big money game because government is worth the investment. Stop demanding that government 'solve' (spend money on) every problem in the country in maybe then you'll see less money in politics.
Not an expert, but the mystery of how candidates will govern seems mostly solved. Politicians are largely, either team Texas or CA. Red Shirts denote the Texas and FL ethos. Unless DC is fighting a war, defending our borders or eradicating the scourge of time change, leave us alone. Blue Shirts nearly guarantee Progressivism/Socialism, a la CA.
For example, yesterday Boulder, CO requested SCOTUS allow them to set energy policy for the US, and the world, via lawsuits that seek to bankrupt US energy companies for Climate Change.
Boulder, historically best known for scenic vistas and rich kids pretending to attend college while they party and ski, has decided Energy Companies are the new Big Tobacco. One wonders exactly how stoned one must be, to believe an integral part of protecting the homeland and feeding hundreds of millions, is just like a cigarette.
Not a single Dem even mentioned the theory might be slightly flawed, in a world where China and India burn mostly coal to power nearly 3 billion people, and burning cow dung still provides much energy for a billion Africans. Except for Fetterman, Dems do not dare.
Meanwhile, Reps ignore DC corruption no one even attempts to hide, while spending billions we do not have, and starting wars, never fully explained.
In Nov, regardless of the hundreds of millions flushed by campaigns, Americans need only to pick their poison. Our problem isn't that we do not know how candidates will govern, but that their positions are all but preordained.
I completely relate to the feeling, but strongly disagree with the conclusion.
If we all follow your recommendations, the only ones funding the politicians will be the billionaires.
Your point ".....can’t confidently describe what either Democrats or Republicans will actually do with control of Congress in 2027" tells me you don't know what the Republicans have been doing when they've had control for the past two years.
The best option in my opinion is get all fundraising out of politics - our taxes provide a set amount of funding for each race - divided equally among the candidates. Elections should be about ideas, not who can do the most fundraising.
Agree about billionaire fundings. And your solution is one I've thought for years. But of course, the politicians themselves would never let such a solution happen.
Like it or not, in this modern technological world of electronic communications, money truly is speech. If you doubt that, try getting your message across by carrying a sign on a street corner...
That is a start if independents stop funding political campaigns, but just a drop in the bucket. Independents donors aren’t the problem. I’d love to hear a multifaceted approach that addresses the cause, not the symptom.
Excellent diagnosis of the problem. Given this, and the fact that independents now constitute 47% of the electorate (vs 27 and 26% for Dems and Repubs), I would very much like to get your take on possible solutions.
(1) “Bipartisan polling demonstrates overwhelming opposition to the Citizens United v. FEC ruling, with substantial majorities of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans supporting a constitutional amendment to overturn it.” [AI, I can provide specific polls for anyone interested. Could independents and others working together on this issue make a difference?
(2) In a recent article in the Nation, former organizer and Harvard professor Marshall Ganz argues that the most important and fundamental lesson from Mamdani’s victory over big money is that organizing/interpersonal contact– that going out in the community, listening to people and working together with them to achieve common goals builds respect and trust and can beat big donor candidates drowning us in attack ads and slogans instead of concrete solutions to our problems.
(3) I would also be very interested in your take on Tucker and others talk of a 3rd party.
Defund politics, I like it!
Absolutely! I ran for the Democratic nomination for Congress in Minnesota CD2 this year in the primary. I wasted $200,000 of my own money because I hated to ask other people for money. And I held my nose to run as a Democrat as a less awful choice than the Republican party, and I tried to avoid saying that I thought we should enforce our immigration laws, because that is unpopular with Democrats, or that the COVID lockdowns were the worst public policy disaster in US history, excluding slavery and legalized segregation, because Democrats really loved the COVID lockdowns. I campaigned mostly by text and made the mistake of making specific proposals, such as cutting income taxes and payroll taxes in half and replacing that revenue with a wealth tax of 2% to 8% on multimillionaires and billionaires, or a progressive tax on corporate revenue and profit to induce our giant corporations to voluntarily split up and compete and revive capitalism. Instead I should have given vague platitudes, like that "I want to cut the price of groceries," with no proposal of how that could happen. For my trouble, I got 2% of the vote.
I will never give another penny to a politician.
Interesting, thanks for sharing. Sounds painful but honest!
The political parties are not our government. They are special interests that have stolen our governments from us. And then they beg money from us so they can do it to us some more.
Well I can help you out in trying to figure out what Democrats or Republicans will do when they control congress after the election. Absolutely nothing, same as always. Of course I don't follow politics for a living, and there is always the outside chance that they will come up with ways to make life worse.
I keep seeing ads for Talarico while watching movies on Tubi. Really strange, as I live in New Mexico. Haven't seen any for any other out of state politician (though the Dems are running a lot of negative ads for in-state races).
I tune them all out; don't care.
There used to be something I called the "silly season" when we were inundated with these ads. Now the silly season never really ends.
Political ads: the only commercials during sporting events more depressing than the gambling ones
Incorporate INSTANT REPLAY into goverrment!
Good advice, and easy to follow! Just stop sending them money! I like it and intend to share this idea far and wide.
This petulant post of mine wound up garnering exponentially more "likes" than anything I've ever posted. The constant spamming is really hitting a nerve among folks who don't appreciate being treated like ATMs. https://substack.com/@ericaetelson/note/c-348005558
Politics is a big money game because government is worth the investment. Stop demanding that government 'solve' (spend money on) every problem in the country in maybe then you'll see less money in politics.
Not an expert, but the mystery of how candidates will govern seems mostly solved. Politicians are largely, either team Texas or CA. Red Shirts denote the Texas and FL ethos. Unless DC is fighting a war, defending our borders or eradicating the scourge of time change, leave us alone. Blue Shirts nearly guarantee Progressivism/Socialism, a la CA.
For example, yesterday Boulder, CO requested SCOTUS allow them to set energy policy for the US, and the world, via lawsuits that seek to bankrupt US energy companies for Climate Change.
Boulder, historically best known for scenic vistas and rich kids pretending to attend college while they party and ski, has decided Energy Companies are the new Big Tobacco. One wonders exactly how stoned one must be, to believe an integral part of protecting the homeland and feeding hundreds of millions, is just like a cigarette.
Not a single Dem even mentioned the theory might be slightly flawed, in a world where China and India burn mostly coal to power nearly 3 billion people, and burning cow dung still provides much energy for a billion Africans. Except for Fetterman, Dems do not dare.
Meanwhile, Reps ignore DC corruption no one even attempts to hide, while spending billions we do not have, and starting wars, never fully explained.
In Nov, regardless of the hundreds of millions flushed by campaigns, Americans need only to pick their poison. Our problem isn't that we do not know how candidates will govern, but that their positions are all but preordained.
I completely relate to the feeling, but strongly disagree with the conclusion.
If we all follow your recommendations, the only ones funding the politicians will be the billionaires.
Your point ".....can’t confidently describe what either Democrats or Republicans will actually do with control of Congress in 2027" tells me you don't know what the Republicans have been doing when they've had control for the past two years.
The best option in my opinion is get all fundraising out of politics - our taxes provide a set amount of funding for each race - divided equally among the candidates. Elections should be about ideas, not who can do the most fundraising.
Agree about billionaire fundings. And your solution is one I've thought for years. But of course, the politicians themselves would never let such a solution happen.
Like it or not, in this modern technological world of electronic communications, money truly is speech. If you doubt that, try getting your message across by carrying a sign on a street corner...
That is a start if independents stop funding political campaigns, but just a drop in the bucket. Independents donors aren’t the problem. I’d love to hear a multifaceted approach that addresses the cause, not the symptom.
Excellent diagnosis of the problem. Given this, and the fact that independents now constitute 47% of the electorate (vs 27 and 26% for Dems and Repubs), I would very much like to get your take on possible solutions.
(1) “Bipartisan polling demonstrates overwhelming opposition to the Citizens United v. FEC ruling, with substantial majorities of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans supporting a constitutional amendment to overturn it.” [AI, I can provide specific polls for anyone interested. Could independents and others working together on this issue make a difference?
(2) In a recent article in the Nation, former organizer and Harvard professor Marshall Ganz argues that the most important and fundamental lesson from Mamdani’s victory over big money is that organizing/interpersonal contact– that going out in the community, listening to people and working together with them to achieve common goals builds respect and trust and can beat big donor candidates drowning us in attack ads and slogans instead of concrete solutions to our problems.
(3) I would also be very interested in your take on Tucker and others talk of a 3rd party.