Bernie Sanders is constantly pointing to the billionaires as the reason for every problem in the U.S. He is telling people that the billionaires are the reason Republicans win elections. His argument is that Citizens United has allowed corporations and big money to buy elections. His solution is to overturn Citizens United and publicly fund campaigns. Although his comments appeal to many, let’s look at facts.
If money can buy elections, then obviously the campaigns that spend the most money would win the most elections. All we have to do is look at campaign spending and compare to who won the elections.
In 2016, Hillary Clinton’s campaign spent $768 million and Donald Trump’s campaign spent $400 million. Including Joint Fundraising Committees (JFC) Clinton spent $1.2 billion and Trump spent $700 million. Trump won and spent far less money.
In 2020, Joe Biden’s Campaign raised $1.1 billion and Donald Trump’s campaign raised $800 million. The JFC totals are more difficult to determine but Biden outspent Trump. Biden won. Was it because he spent more?
In 2024, Kamala Harris’s campaign spent more than Trump. Including the JFC totals Harris’s campaign spent $2.28 billion. Trump’s campaign spent $1.29 billion. Trump won even though he spent less.
The facts show us that in the last three election cycles two out of three campaigns were lost by the campaign spending the most money. So why does Sander’s idea resonate with so many people?
I think the answer is rather obvious. They fail to do any introspection. They fail to look for truth. Instead, they assume that they are right. Their positions are flawless. Their candidates are superior. Therefore, the reason they lose is because of rich people buying more advertising which buys votes of stupid people who don’t think.
Since the data doesn’t support their position, we can see that Sander’s followers are mistaken. The positions are flawed, as determined by elections. Their candidates are not superior, as determined by elections. Even though they spend more money, they can’t buy the elections.
What positions resonate with voters? That should be the question every politician and every party should be asking. If there is a position that is right but doesn’t resonate with voters, a good politician will find a way to make it resonate. That is real leadership.
I believe most Americans want equality of opportunity. We don’t expect equality of outcomes. We want a chance to compete, not an award for competing.
We want safety and freedom from crime. We expect our police to enforce the law. We want to be able to walk the streets. We don’t want our merchants to have to lock up merchandise.
Most of all, we want as much individual freedom as possible. The No Kings phrase resonates with many of us. We saw King Donald telling us not to go work during the Covid pandemic. We saw King Joe reducing free speech. Neither of those resonate with most of us.
Taxes are a common issue. Should we use taxes to incentivize behavior? That is why tax rates can be increased and yet billionaires continue to pay less. They use tax breaks that we give them. Most of us believe that billionaires should pay more income tax as a percentage of income. That is called a progressive tax. I don’t think we should vote for taxes that we know we won’t pay. I’m in favor of a flat tax with a deduction so that those under the national median income don’t pay income tax. That is fair and progressive. No tax incentives for behavior. No other deductions.
Medicare and social security are insurance policies paid for by taxes. We should remove the income caps so that everyone pays the same rate. We should also have a means test for receiving benefits and everyone should get the same benefit no matter how much they have paid. That would eliminate the idea that social security is a forced retirement fund.
Gun control has traditionally been a losing issue. Guns are not the problem. Shooters are the problem. We won’t solve the problem by pretending gun control is the solution. We must look at gang activity, mental health, and suicide prevention.
In conclusion, money is not buying elections. Good candidates and good ideas still matter. Most Americans want to succeed on their own merit. They don’t expect preferential treatment. They just want a chance.
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