All over the news – including here on The Takeaway – we’ve been hearing about Occupy Wall Street and the complaints of the “99 percent” against politicians and big corporate interests. But what exactly is the Occupy Wall Street movement alleging? One of the protesters’ main complaints is that the political system is currently in the grips of corporate financial control. They may have a point, but how strong is their argument? Is our political system truly broken by the amount of money injected to campaign financing or by the lobbyists who peddle influence on K Street? Or, have money and special interests always been part of the political process? Jared Bernstein, senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and former economic policy adviser to Vice President Joe Biden, discusses the influence of corporate money on American politics.
The World is an independent newsroom. We’re not funded by billionaires; instead, we rely on readers and listeners like you. As a listener, you’re a crucial part of our team and our global community. Your support is vital to running our nonprofit newsroom, and we can’t do this work without you. Will you support The World with a gift today? Donations made between now and Dec. 31 will be matched 1:1. Thanks for investing in our work!