Thread by @TheLoveBel0w

Thread: I think people underestimate how dominant corporate money is in politics, and the extent to which it's drowning out constituents' voices. Corporate money in politics is to democracy what climate change is to the environment. Both need to be addressed with greater urgency.

The GOP has always been more openly cozy with corporations, but that relationship has gone from blatant quid pro quo to straight up giving the fox keys to the henhouse. Every government dept is now run by execs or lobbyists from the very industries they're supposed to oversee.

As comforting as the thought might be, corporate influence isn't exclusive to 1 party. This is why systemic change can only happen if politicians call out members of their own party too.

Example: Senator Warren calling out Dems for being too close to Citigroup bank back in 2014.

In that 2014 speech, Senator Warren explains in detail how Citigroup bank used political influence to avoid accountability, get billions in taxpayer funds, and consolidate power.

"Today, the biggest companies have upwards of 100 lobbyists representing them, allowing them to be everywhere, all the time. For every $1 spent on lobbying by labor unions and public-interest groups, large corporations and their associations now spend $34"
theatlantic.com/business/archi…

Health insurance companies are now focusing their lobbying on Dems in order to prevent Medicare For All, and many are taking the bait.

Every year in America, there are 45k deaths and 646k bankruptcies from lack of insurance. People shouldn't be allowed to die for a CEO's bonus.

That's why it's dangerous when ppl suggest, no matter how well-intentioned, that policy doesn't matter. For many, policy can mean a better life, it can mean life or death. But unless a candidate's serious about getting corp $ out of politics, to them, voters will always come 2nd.