The influence of money in politics
Money can buy votes — not always directly, rather by preying on the unwillingness or inability of some voters to reject untrue messages. Money provides exposure through TV and print ads, campaign literature, rally expenses, staff salaries, fundraising, rent, travel, entertainment, etc. Voters unwilling or unable to reject falsehoods accept without validation, assertions, especially if they are attractive. The result is votes based on misinformation delivered on the financial wings of the affluent. This is not what the founders intended. Examples of accepted false statements:
- Assertion: The 2020 presidential election was stolen through widespread fraud. Truth: Courts have found no evidence to support this claim.
- Assertion: Unauthorized immigrants commit more crime than Americans. Truth: In Texas, the only source of likely reliable information, unauthorized immigrants commit fewer violent-, property-, or drug-related crimes per capita than American citizens.
- Assertion: Participants in the Jan. 6 march on the Capitol were peaceful. Truth: Some protesters carried guns and improvised weapons. They inflicted damage and assaulted police officers.
- Assertion: Human activity does not cause climate change. Truth: Warming cannot be explained without accounting for human-generated greenhouse gas emissions.
- Assertion: Abdul El-Sayed is a communist. Truth: He has never made such a claim nor is he a member of the Communist Party.
Until we can constrain the ability to buy votes by spreading disinformation, we must work hard, through self-education and sharing knowledge, to overcome the distortions in voting power that disproportionate availability of money affords. We must arm ourselves with knowledge and willingness to share it. A great deal of money is being spent to perpetuate untruths. Access to large sums of money should not be the basis upon which elections are decided.
Del Bloem, Hoffman Estates