Lets see where we are so far in 2008.
According to Open Secrets:
- Big Tobacco has given substantially less than $2 million - 60% to Republicans, 40% to Democrats.
- Big Telecommunications has given a bit more than $3 million - 53% to Republicans, 36% to Democrats.
- Big Accountant has given a bit more than $6 million - 52% to Republicans, 47% to Democrats.
- Big Casino has given a bit more than $6 million - 60% to Democrats, 40% to Republicans.
- Big Pharmacy has given a bit more than $9 million - 51% to Democrats, 49% to Republicans.
- Big Oil has given a bit more than $9 million - 72% to Republicans, 28% to Democrats.
- Big Education has given about $12 million - 76% to Democrats, 24% to Republicans
- Big Lobbyist has given a bit more than $13 million - 57% to Democrats, 43% to Republicans.
- Big Bank has given a bit more than $14 million - 51% to Democrats, 49% to Republicans.
- Big Hollywood has given a bit more than $15 million - 77% to Democrats, 23% to Republicans.
- Big Insurance has given about $16 million - 50.5% to Republicans, 49.5% to Democrats.
- Big Lawyer has given a bit more than $82 million - 77% to Democrats, 23% to Republicans.
I guess this all means the Democrats are right - we GOPers are bought and paid for by Big Tobacco, Telecommunications, Accountant and Oil, while Big Insurance hedges its bets…still, at least we’re not as completely and fully bought as the Democrats are by Big Casino, Pharmacy, Education, Lobbyist, Bank, Hollywood and Lawyer. I mean, think of it - if you add up all the money the GOP has been given by Oil and Tobacco, its nothing compared to what Democrats have receved from Big Lawyer, alone.
Now, money buys influence - who do you want your government influenced by - oil companies who actually make something useful, or lawyers who sue everyone over nothing?
We report, you decide.
Tags: political contributions
February 15th, 2008
Ron Paul received a $500.00 donation from a racist named Don Black (he runs a website which shan’t be named here, nor linked - look it up if you are really determined about seeing it). Paul says he won’t return the money because by taking that $500.00, he gives Black that much less money to spend on hatred, and it gives Paul that much more money to spread the libertarian message. Frank James over at The Swamp has this to say about it:
… lot of money is given to candidates by supporters with views out of the mainstream, views many other Americans would find objectionable. That’s a given. The only difference is that Black doesn’t hide his views.
Still, the unwritten rule in politics is that when you find yourself getting money from someone controversial because of what they do or say, someone with views repugnant to most Americans, you give their cash back like it’s radioactive.
Paul’s approach is certainly unorthodox, like so much about the man. That doesn’t necessarily make it wrong. And because it’s so different a way of handling such a situation, it presents an opportunity for a discussion about what’s right and wrong in such situations. In short, it makes you think.
Does it? Perhaps. Certainly it makes me think that Paul - a Christian, like me - has a practical amorality in is public actions. This would be in keeping with libertarian thinking, and it why the only thing, in my view, worse than a libertarian is a totalitarian. We are to be neither sheep nor wolves in our dealings with others - neither cowards nor predators. Ron Paul may rationalise his refusal to return a racist’s donation all he wishes, but the real effect of his action is to legitimise evil. Evil there is in this world, and we humans beings are incapable of eliminating it - but wise men and women will shun evil whenever they see it.
Black is free to hold whatever views he wishes, but as his views are evil, I want nothing to do with them, or him - and I’d much prefer it if I never come within a country mile of him or his views except to call him to repentance and with a mind to teaching him that we are all children of God, and thus brothers and sisters. Were Black to ever give me $500, I wouldn’t return it (Paul is right about the good in lessening Black’s resources for speading evil), but I wouldn’t keep it, either - I’d send it along to, say, Missionaries of the Poor (which, being that it is Christmas, you might want to send a few bucks to, anyways) - and ask them to send a kind thank you to Black, along with a picture of the people his donation helped (they are headquartered in Jamaica, ya see?).
Life is a series of opportunties for us to do the right thing - it is not a zero sum game, and its primary purpose isn’t our selves. Each decision is a chance to make the world a better place, and it is a shame that Paul takes such a narrow view of his moral obligations to society as a whole.
Tags: political contributions, racism, Ron Paul
December 23rd, 2007
