Why We Must Get Big Money Out of Politics | Robert Reich

Robert Reich explains why we must limit the influence of donors and lobbyists on Washington.
Watch More: 3 Things You Didn't Know About Money in Politics

[lorriec]

Yes, we absolutely must if we care to save democracy...

[richardsaffle]

What do I think? I think we all agree this is the problem, & that an amendment is the strongest possible solution. So history shows that we Must use all the tools of democracy available to us, & that includes not only protesting & begging Congress, but more importantly the states pressuring Congress by petitioning for an Art V convention limited to the issue of campaign finance reform.

[amaansiddiqui]

Wolf PAC is an organization that is trying to get as many state legislatures as possible to pass a call for a Constitutional Convention(2/3 if the state legislatures nationwide at least). That way, 3/4 of the state legislatures can pass an amendment to the Constitution hat would outlaw the influence of “big money” in politics.

[joanlaundy]

Because the Supreme Court has already ruled on this subject, our only alternative is an amendment to the Constitution. There are two ways to propose an amendment to the constitution and only one way to ratify an amendment (approve). To ratify, or approve, an amendment and add it to the Constitution, 75% (38) state legislatures would have to vote on it and agree to ratify. To propose an amendment, either 2/3 of Congress OR 2/3 of the states' legislatures (as a group, or convention) could make a proposal. Neither Congress or the States' Convention can do anything but make a proposal. So, there is no legal way to "hijack", "runaway" or otherwise interfere with the amendment proposal process, because 75% of the state legislatures would never ratify.
Are we going to sit around like meerkats and wait for Congress, many of whom are already contaminated by donor money, to propose an amendment ? Good luck with that. A more sensible idea is for the states to call for a convention and make a proposal there. Two thirds of the states would have to pass a resolution calling for an amendment convention. This method has already been in the U.S. Constitution since the beginning !! It is called Article V, a limited amendment convention. NOT an open convention requesting unspecified changes to the constitution, but a convention limited to one single topic: to fix our broken campaign finance system.
There has never been an Article V convention of the states, but half of our current amendments began out of grassroots movements, piling up state resolutions calling for a convention until Congress finally acted. So, again, do we wait humbly for Congress to take action, or do we ask our state legislatures to pass a resolution until we either get our convention, or Congress is forced to act ? Five states have already passed this resolution. For more information, go to www.wolf-pac.com

[danielmisrael]

Constitutional amendment with article 5 convention

[amaansiddiqui]

The problem with Common Cause is that thy don’t disclose their donors. Why are they fighting organizations like Wolf PAC, who are also fighting the influence of “big money” in politics. Who’s funding Common Cause?

[BostonTerrierDad]

RR is the man!! i love his whiteboard presentations...i can get my republican friends - well, some of them, to understand that....

[thedirepuppy]

C'mon guy, give them a break!
If they weren't driving people into poverty, how could they piss and moan about the poor?

[seeamerica]

Ban all lobbyists from conflicts of interest if they ever served in gov + limit their campaign donations

[sfkeepay]

Reich's videos should be mandatory in every school in America.

[amaansiddiqui]

I think it would be a great idea for 2/3 of the States to ratify a Consitutional Convention for the sake of this issue. Then 3/4 of the States can pass the bill that would prohibit “big money” in politics into law. Since State legislatures can be more accessible to common people than the Federal legislature is, it would be a more realistic option to make the influence of “big money” in politics to be outlawed. It would also mean getting around the corrupt Congress who has been controlled by special interests for far too long.

[Tommy_Mac]

Help us Robert Reich....our system is broken. A sane voice in the storm.
God Bless the U.S.A.

[b.terenceharwick]

Robert Reich is a rare observer of contemporary politics: He penetrates to core and enduring problems of democracy in America; Rather than the usual ---

Derailed in thought and observation by the day's dominant distractions.

[edeff]

Excellent video. I try to share all your vids to anyone who will listen... Stay strong!

[RabbitWriter]

I wish Mr. Reich would run for president already.

[LifeChangePlans]

Similar situation going on in the UK. Big money in Politics won the 2016 referendum for Leave campaigns, then the Conservatives and now Boris Johnson.

[ThisIsToolman]

You are absolutely correct. There has to be a third party determined to be unaffiliated with big donors. The question will be, how can they win without the advantage that big money brings?

[PoliticalEconomy]

GET MONEY OUT OF POLITICS YET D REPRESENTATIVES JUST VOTED FOR NANCY PELOSI AS SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE

[davebliss]

I’m retired on Social Security which gives me almost the same income I had in the late 80’s. I am disgusted with the politics in this country that would allow the pandemic to ruin my business, and I got no help. The relief fund distribution was highly corrupt and ruined us. How could this happen? Trump installed his cronies in highly responsible positions, in effect allowing them to corrupt the distribution of these funds. Now I can barely survive.

[nealford]

A guiutine unfortunately is illegal. Disallow corporate donations. Put a ceiling on personal donations. Outlaw pac $. Make accepting anything (even a cup of Joe) from a lobbyist illegal . Just a start. No jobs for Congress spouses.