Governor Scott
Walker survived a recall vote this past week and is the first governor to do
so. It wasn't really a surprise that
Walker was successful, seeing how much money was spent and how much energy and enthusiasm
the recall brought. Frankly I would have
been more surprised had Walker lost.
Many Republicans
are hailing this as a significant victory and a sign of things to come. Democrats, on the other hand, are lamenting
their perceived poor efforts. Suggestions that this represents a surge in
conservatism or conversely a sagging liberal spirit are incorrect. Walker's victory is a precursor of things to
come in this post-Citizens United World.
Like it or not
(and it should be not), this is the way elections will go from this point
forward. The "freedom" of
corporations to give vast sums of money will be the defining force in American
politics. From here on out, it won't be
about who has the best policies or solutions, it will be about who has the most
money to spend. Democrats are hardly
innocent in this matter, for after promising to only use public funds in his
presidential run, Obama abandoned that commitment in order to access additional
cash. Yet it's hard to blame him, for in this instance taking the high road
would almost surely mean leaving the Oval Office for good.
It may not seem
like much now, but it's only going to get worse. As politicians continue to
craft legislation that cuts taxes for wealthy citizens and corporations alike,
the steady flow of money and resources upward will turn into a rushing river.
Which means more and more money to finance elections for politicians that do
their bidding. It's a cyclical process
really.
Wisconsin really
is then is a sign of things to come, and things are going to get a lot worse
before they get any better so if you're for freedom and democracy in America,
you can hardly be a fan of the way this is headed. After all, America is about
freedom and liberty for ALL, not just the rich and powerful.
