Pay 2 Play: Democracy’s High Stakes
Dear Editor:
Since the Supreme Court decision of Citizens United determined that the existing regulation of campaign contributions was unconstitutional, our government has evolved into an unabashed pay-to-play system. The big money flooding our political system buys access to lawmakers, and political contributors use that access to benefit their own interests.
We can see the system clearly playing out on the federal level in the emergency funding bill that congress passed last month. After J.P. Morgan Chase C.E.O. Jamie Dimon personally lobbied members of congress, the CRomnibus bill included a provision that repealed the prior “Prohibition against Federal Government Bailouts of Swaps Entities” law. Now, not only can banks once again trade derivatives free of government regulation, but the government is also required to bail them out when the bets go south: Our tax dollars at work.
The same system operates on the local level. The Datre family, for example, was a major political contributor in Islip, Long Island. Their generosity won them numerous government contracts, including a contract to provide clean fill in a children’s park, at a wetlands site, and at a veterans’ housing project. The sites, however, were filled with thousands of tons of toxic waste.
The Datres went too far, and they have been indicted, but they are hardly alone in paying to play. The same system is certainly operating in our city and impacting our neighborhoods. As City Council Member Cory Johnson told WestView, the results of large contributors and corporations “play out in the votes of our elected officials.”
In fact, money in politics is currently the single biggest challenge to our well-being. Until the big money is taken out of the system, people are virtually powerless against the self-interest of people like Jamie Dimon and the Datres and the corporations they control. The needs of people will not be addressed as long as corporate interests control our elected officials.
There is an opportunity to begin to get involved in finding a solution. On Tuesday, January 13th at 6:30 p.m., the movie Pay 2 Play: Democracy’s High Stakes will be screened of at NYU’s Furman Hall, located at 245 Sullivan Street, followed by discussion and possible grassroots organizing. The movie, by filmmaker John Ennis, is an engrossing Michael-Moore type documentary that follows the money in elections and explores concrete solutions to our current pay-to-play system. For more information about the movie, go to http://www.pay2play.tv/
The screening is free, although contributions will gladly be accepted.
Sincerely,
Penny Mintz
