Elon Musk Is Demolishing the Rationale for Citizens United - The New Republic

[Susan Ogden]

Elon Musk Is Demolishing the Rationale for Citizens United - The New Republic


https://apple.news/Am4Ibq3bcQbCVYJm6-i0bqQ

[Charlie Cooper]

Thanks, Susan. Already by 2017, 85-90% of the public were on board with limiting big money. Very few ever bought Justice Kennedy's tortured reasoning. GMOM predicted years ago that the domination of campaigns by a few big donors would crescendo. We bemoaned the fact that the top 100 donors combined to contribute/spend $1 billion. In 2024, 8 top donors contributed/spent $1 billion! Here's another point from one of our GMOM statements in 2020.

There is a paradox in considering the U.S. campaign finance system. The money usually required to win office is daunting to almost anyone who considers running for office. At the same time, it is chicken feed compared to the accumulated wealth – $40 trillion – of the top 1% of households.

Musk is now realizing that he can afford to spend billions on buying politicians, and he thinks he can make more money. He's offering Wisconsinites $100 to give up their contact info by signing a "petition."

Charlie Cooper

M: 410-624-6095

On Mon, Mar 24, 2025 at 7:50 AM Susan Ogden <susan...@gmail.com> wrote:

Elon Musk Is Demolishing the Rationale for Citizens United - The New Republic


https://apple.news/Am4Ibq3bcQbCVYJm6-i0bqQ

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "GMOM-volunteers" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to GMOM-voluntee...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/GMOM-volunteers/CADKhjq7sVoNVWq-pCTwEVv59oy%3Dy%3DbuHuUhLspG%3DVgLyd%2BzfSw%40mail.gmail.com.

[Deborah Hunsley]

Hi Charlie!  Can you recommend a good resource for information on how other countries handle keeping money out of their elections?  I think it important that Americans understand that GMOM's goal is not unreasonable – that other democratic nations have found viable solutions.

Thanks!  

Deborah

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/GMOM-volunteers/CAAQsMZzvSfhagQz_ndpwtBGTaVf2OUgm9o4YTG2%3DOt696xC%3D8Q%40mail.gmail.com.

[Charlie Cooper]

Hi, Deborah. It's wonderful to hear from you, and I hope you are doing well. Joan and I are in pretty good health and keeping busy.

I assume you know that GMOM shut down because of lack of interest from volunteers and also because our Board no longer sees an opportunity for success in the strategy we chose. Here is the "goodbye" email.

As to your question about how other nations control money in politics, it's not a question I have every pursued. I did find some info about European nations (you can look up any EU nation and see a description of its campaign financing laws) and Australia, and some of those nations have some form of public campaign financing.

I have recently come to see the question from a different perspective. The central problem is concentration of wealth in a very few. They don't only use their wealth to control presidents and legislators, they have outsized influence on the judiciary (look up Leonard Leo) and run the media, universities, think tanks, and the judiciary. They weaken labor unions. The necessary response is some type of grassroots people's movement like the rise of the labor movement in the U.S. during the first half of the 20th century. I'm not sure how a retired guy of my age and energy level can participate in such a movement.

Charlie Cooper

M: 410-624-6095

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/GMOM-volunteers/E40746E5.2CFF6C%25dhunsley%40earthlink.net.