by Gene Denardo

Created on: October 23, 2009   Last Updated: October 25, 2009

In a fundamental manner, our current system of campaign finance is based on the founding principles of our nation. Our forefathers were "elites" and benefited greatly from the "merchant state" that was the basis for our governing system. The great "notions" of the Constitution did little to change the manner in which the state was intertwined with business.

George Washington and many other original "patriots" garnered large sums of money in land speculation during the settlement of the original colonies. They were "granted" large tracts of land, often 100,000 acres or more, which they divided up and sold for vast sums. These grants came directly from the "government", usually from the presiding governor of the colony.

It was a decree by the King of England to cease this speculation anywhere west of the Atlantic drainage that prompted the Revolution. In a sense, we were rebelling against any outside control of these lucrative government subsidies to private profit. Little has changed since then.

Campaign financing by large corporate interests is simply the "financing" of this same process. The "donors" reap rewards geometrically larger than their investment. You can follow the "input" of funds by following the congressional record. Depending on the nature of the bill, corporations that will be affected or wish to effect the current legislation will contribute to those members they believe can make a difference in the outcome.

You can almost guarantee that the sponsors of any bill that benefits special interests will have received large donations from those same interests. There is no secret to this process, you simply need to follow the money.

It is corporations that elect our "public" servants. It was perhaps Lincoln who was elected as the first great "corporate" president. He served as an attorney for the railroads for years before he ran for president and was soundly backed by the corporate railroads. He received four times the funding of any candidate received for any previous campaign.

The railroad land grants, free land presented to the railroads 14 miles on either sides of the laid tracks that they were handsomely paid for above and beyond the grants, eventually equaled ten percent of the continental land mass of our nation. Thank you Mr. Lincoln!

So, this concept of business interests having a predominate say in our political arena is nothing new. The country was based on great speculation and those who profited the most were the most able to continue

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