"Regardless of your opinion on money in politics, given recent Supreme Court decisions, it is certainly not changing any time soon."

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COMMENTS:
*  This election should pay big dividends! I bought three Senators & a couple of Congressmen. Thanks again, boys!
*  The problem with big money donations is that they pick the candidates. Without lots of money no one can run. Good intentioned regular Joe's don't stand a chance. The rich and well established buy the candidate's they want. The winners owe their souls before they ever take office.
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Big Money In Politics: Hundreds of Millions Spent and Everyone Has Their Own Complaint About It
By Michael Hausam, December 30, 2014

Is there too much money in politics? Are too few spending too much to influence elections?

It depends on how one defines “too.”

Politico just released an analysis of the donations made during 2014 election cycle, paying particular attention to the individuals who gave the most. The conclusions made, based upon their findings, probably will rest upon how that “too” is defined.

These are the top 10 donors:

Democrat/Liberal donors ($92.3 million): Tom Steyer, Fred Eychaner, and Jim Simons.

Republican/Conservative donors ($53.9 million): Sheldon Adelson, Paul Singer, Bob Mercer, Joe Ricketts, Dick Uihlein, and David Koch.

A bit of both: Michael Bloomberg.

Here are the details from their analysis:

1. The top 100 campaign donors gave almost as much ($323 million)  as the whole of the 4.75 million people who gave less than $200 ($356 million).
2. Super PAC power is eclipsing that of the political parties, due to fewer regulations and restraints on donors and their activities.
3. 52 of the top 100 donors gave to Democratic causes.
4. Smaller donations, under $200, went to Democratic causes by just over one-third – $205.3 to $150.7 million.
5. The quantity of individual donors decreased and campaigns spent less than compared to 2012 – first time ever.
6. Less than .3% of Americans, approximately 900,000 individuals, make political donations.

Comments from “experts” and “consultants” run the entire gamut. Some bemoan the influence of big-moneyed donors; others respond by pointing out that disclosure laws make any individual’s agenda crystal clear.

Another issue raised is that smaller-donating individuals will lose their voice; a response to that is that most grassroots political activity on the behalf of candidates or issues is done by these folks, increasing their influence far beyond relatively small financial contributions.

Regardless of your opinion on money in politics, given recent Supreme Court decisions, it is certainly not changing any time soon. Furthermore, as government becomes more and more involved in the details of the lives of Americans, attempts to influence that government and its officials isn’t changing any time soon, either.
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