How to Spend Money on Politics Like a Billionaire

The 2018 midterm elections are here, and wealthy donors are spending millions on U.S. politics. How are they able to give so much? We help Marcy, a made-up donor, navigate campaign finance laws to spend $5 million. Illustration: Heather Seidel/The Wall Street Journal

More from the Wall Street Journal:

[GrinderCB]

The Golden Rule says that "He who has the gold makes the rules." What most people forget is that "he who makes the rules determines how he gets the gold." Billionaires want to buy politicians and politicians want to be bought. Symbiotic relationship based on the Golden Rule.

[paulwolinsky]

Leave it to the Wall Street Journal to draw as its example "bike lanes". Very indicative of how people are buying influence.

[cjbrogdon]

Something is so wrong about campaign money deciding our fate. After almost four years of our economy, I barely get through the month. So does that mean we the poor barely get by and don't have a say if we are broke and the candidates we want need campaign funds we're screwed?

[doodelay]

Excellent, well needed video. Really impressed that you guys created this.

[spacevertex]

The silver lining in here is that at the least all this it is public knowledge, unlike in many countries, where deals are made in the back rooms, without the public knowing what is going on.

[azazel]

Here's how to:
Have 90% of your wealth taken by the state as punishment, and if you are caught funding a politician again, you are to face life imprisonment.

[rockyr]

Make video like this that helps to understand the world & empower with truth & information

[DLBcovers]

At first I thought the title was "How to Spend Money Like a Billionaire"

[FutureJacobs]

Legally that is LOL, yeah here is 1mil to your private foundation

[dannoringer]

So what can we little people who are not Marcy's do to stop this corruption of our system by "well meaning" people with too much money and cause?

[facebook.comary.manhattan]

PRETTAY PRETTAY PRETTAY... PRETTAY GOOD

[DLBcovers]

corruption is made legal to fight corruption

[HenricPelegric]

Best wishes AMERICA. Happy November mid terms . Am in another continent so I really don’t care what you do with your politics . But the system sound honest

[adama.schitt]

You didn't cover what happens to the money if it isn't spent. Various things, I suppose. Could you please cover that? I suspect it has something to do with why these national politicians get to be millionaires.

[jaynewman]

The only contribution I make is to my toilet & that's no (S&%#).