Billionaires buy political influence in America

Since when do we need those who are billionaires and want to influence our political choices or buy our support for their personal or professional needs or goals? We do not need their money in politics as we know their deeds, intent and outcomes are not about or for you, they are about them and their next political, social or economic conquests. Corrupt or jaded people of all sorts who cater to or cave in to the whims of those billionaires are heavy influencers in our everyday lives. An example: donors with largesse bringing down many excellent college presidents. Do those donors know how to run a college of university?

There are good modern day robber barons and bad, just as there were in the 19th century. However more of these billionaires today are becoming politically and radically active. Do we need more polluted fingers in the mix motivated by people with their own agenda to tell us who we are, what we need, what to do and how to do it? Are we that far removed from reality to support a powerful person outside or inside our government that is willing to spend as much money as it takes to achieve their goals.? They do not play by your rules, they make their own rules as they are the privileged and they feel emboldened.

Study Citizens United, a 5 to 4 Supreme Court ruling that gave non profits and for-profit corporations and labor unions or similar entities the right to spend as much money on political campaigns as they choose. You will gain insight from this research about the rebirth of American-generated billionaires’ legally supported game of corporate monopoly. Private citizens are limited on funds for political donation, but the money barons of today find ways to game the system. Is it fixed? That’s depends on your political leanings.

Presidents have little power on influencing everyday prices of bread, eggs or gas or commodities. They don’t shop at grocery stores. However, look at the balance sheets of the American corporations and how Wall Street punishes or rewards those public companies based on quarterly profits. In 2023, some corporations even discussed how they intended to raise prices in an inflationary economy, adding to their bottom line.

When the Fed raises or lowers interest rates at the right or wrong time, the consumer pays for it — or benefits from it. Presidents do not get involved. If you are pessimistic about our American way or our economic direction and the politics of today, then you should be more than concerned. The current political agenda is favoring the billionaires not the average millionaire. Those with the most gold will be guided by their own golden rule. If you trust them, then you have already been conned, it will be too late and they will just ignore your plight!

Kamel Aossey of Minnetonka, MN is a Cedar Rapids native.