Want to understand contemporary American politics? It’s all summed up in a headline found on today’s Bloomberg website — “Donors Invest Millions in Romney for Billions in Returns.”
Are these donors believers in the official Republican small government line? Please. Spare me. They don’t care how big or small is the overall government. They only care about how government operations affect their own wealth. And the Citizen United decision gives them more power than ever to buy more government-linked wealth from candidates who are more than ever in the mood to sell it.
Do I find this situation so unappealing because, as the Romney campaign likes to parrot, I’m jealous of others’ wealth? Having considered this possibility carefully, and looked deeply into my political soul, I find that’s not the case.
The truth is I just plain find this kind of cash-for-favors politics disgusting. And the fact that the people doing it no longer even bother trying to hide what they are doing only makes it more disgusting.
“Donors Invest Millions in Romney for Billions in Returns.” Think about that headline when you enter the voting booth. Want to vote to further the interests of Sheldon Adelson? I don’t.