Our democracy aspires to function on the idea that every American has an equal voice in our laws, our policies and our government. But unfortunately it doesn’t always work that way. A handful of super-wealthy individuals, corporations, and special interest groups have been trying to usurp the power of the people. They do this by contributing millions to political campaigns in order to push their own legislative agenda at every level, from our town halls to our state legislatures to Capitol Hill.
The bank accounts of a wealthy minority shouldn’t count more than your vote at the ballot box or your democratic voice; but unfortunately dark money relentlessly influences the political process. For example, billionaires David and Charles Koch (a.k.a. the Koch Brothers) have raised hundreds of millions for right wing candidates, think-tanks and academics that seek to undermine workers, the environment and our economy. Their donor lists don’t include average, hard-working Americans, but do include hedge fund and private-equity billionaires, real-estate magnates, outsourcers and other corporate executives.[1]
Another example: Walmart’s Walton family (America’s richest family, with more wealth than 42% of American families combined). The Walton Family Foundation advocates vouchers, charters, tax credits, and other schemes to fund private schools with public dollars and with little oversight. Since 2005, the Foundation has given more than $1 billion to corporate education “reform” groups such as union-busting Stand for Children and Michelle Rhee’s teacher-bashing, pro-high stakes testing Students First.”[2],[3]
Where do corporate-backed politicians turn after they’re elected? The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). ALEC is a one-stop-shop for “business-friendly” model bills that are voted on behind closed doors by corporate lobbyists and state legislators during ALEC gatherings. ALEC bills advance policies that privatize our public schools, and starve our public services. ALEC’s legislative library has also included bills that suppress voting rights[4] and eliminate collective bargaining, as well as anti-immigrant legislation (much like Arizona’s racial-profiling law, SB 170) and massive tax breaks for corporations. Over 100 companies and organizations have resigned from ALEC following public outcry over ALEC’s role in "Stand Your Ground" bills, restrictive voter ID laws, and climate denial policies.[5]
[3] http://cashinginonkids.com/brought-to-you-by-wal-mart-how-the-walton-family-foundations-ideological-pursuit-is-damaging-charter-schooling/