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by Carter Neubieser
When working families are struggling to pay rent, when health care costs are out of control, when property taxes squeeze neighbors — it matters who politicians listen to. Right now, too many are listening to the wealthy instead of the vast majority of their constituents. We deserve leaders accountable to our neighbors, not to their donors, political elites, or lobbyists.
As Trump and his extremist billionaire friends question the very idea of one person, one vote, we must do everything we can to strengthen democracy at the state and local level. For most of us, it’s hard to believe that the legalized corruption in D.C. impacts us here in Vermont — it seems distant and disconnected from our politics. While it is true Vermonters are more resilient and civically engaged, we are by no means immune to the corrupting influence of money that has eroded our democracy.
Americans for Prosperity — a Koch-funded political machine — has started to spend tens of thousands of dollars to influence state policy and candidates who represent the interests of the wealthy. They are working in concert with the governor and the Vermont Republican Party to elect politicians interested in cutting taxes for the rich, deregulating industry, and slashing programs that working Vermonters rely on.
Whether or not you agree with their political views is irrelevant. What is relevant is this: a dark-money group funded by billionaires is spreading misinformation, division, and fear. In my view, that hurts our ability to see our neighbors with respect and humanity, and it is the opposite of how our democracy should function.
You might be thinking, “Carter, you need to be fair — it’s not just Republicans, it’s Democrats too.” I agree. What are Democratic elites up to in Vermont?
Let’s step back for just one moment before we check. Wouldn’t you think leading Democrats, having rightly called out the authoritarian actions and blatant corruption of the current president, would be doing all they can to completely reform this corrupt system? Surely the prospect of a Dictator Trump would shock them into making new choices about how they raise money.
Yes, you’re about to be disappointed — blame reporting from VTDigger, not me:
“[Congresswoman] Balint’s leadership PAC reported $13,500 in
contributions over the first half of the year. More than half of that total came from political action committees linked to big-name companies: $5,000 from Nike’s federal PAC; $2,500 from a PAC tied to Universal Music Group; and $1,000 from Google’s federal PAC. … Her leadership PAC reported receiving the Google donation, for instance, on June 12; less than a week later, she wrote in an email seeking donations directly to her campaign that ‘unlike other politicians, Becca doesn’t take money from big corporate donors with a hidden agenda — she relies on support from people like you who pitch in $10 or $5 at a time.’”
This is not about the personal virtue of the governor or the congresswoman. Its not about saying one side is better or worse. This is about the democracy that we as Americans and as Vermonters deserve. Right now, we have a system where money speaks louder than people. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
We must ban corporate contributions and lower contribution limits to campaigns. Vermonters know the difference between free speech and legalized bribery.
We must move to ranked choice voting. Voters deserve more than the false choice of the “lesser evil.”
We must make Town Meeting Day and Election Day paid holidays for all employees. Nobody should have to choose between a paycheck and a ballot in a functional democracy.
We must publicly fund our elections at all levels here in Vermont. Anyone should be able to run for office without needing wealthy friends or political connections.
These reforms aren’t radical — they’re common sense. They represent the baseline of what a healthy democracy needs to survive. Don’t believe me? Look around. We are living through what inaction on these issues results in. As long as elections are bankrolled and controlled by the wealthy, corporations, and special interest groups, our government will serve them — not us.
The author is a Progressive Burlington City Councilor (Ward 1).
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Categories: Commentary, Elections
Re: “The author is a Progressive Burlington City Councilor (Ward 1). ”
It would have been more constructive for VDC to disclose this reality at the beginning of the article so as to have the opportunity to avoid the continued waste of time reading these rehashed delusions.
The first few sentences gave that away!
It’s those darn free speech rights at work again!
Boo! to ranked choice voting! Dumb!
Not only dumb, but shown in areas using it favors Democrat candidates
There is too much misinformation piled up here to even begin to sort it out. Our friend Rob Roper has written volumes dismantling a lot of the bunk presented here. But let’s just tell it like it is on one point which is that Ranked Choice Voting is an abomination that has already been tried and rejected right here in Burlington.
I’m sorry Carter you lost me at democracy. Go to Mises.org for some common sense.
We are a federal republic with some democratic features. Ranked Choice voting is a hell no!
Well, sometimes you’re the pigeon and sometimes you’re the statue.
I agree with the day off to vote. That would get us one step forward toward absentee mail in ballots ONLY like it used to be. Universal mail in ballots need to be repealed … it makes Election Day 6 weeks long with intense campaign spending during that time.
But …. Mr Neubeiser Ignored the $1M to Rep Balint from the FTX / Victory Fund. Any outside money influence bigger than that one? Yet, he says, “Becca doesn’t take money from big corporate donors with a hidden agenda — she relies on support from people like you who pitch in $10 or $5 at a time.’” Yea … sure.
Unsurprisingly, he calls out Americans for Prosperity and through some hard to understand “logic”, he ties this situation to President Trump. He even drops down to name calling. That’s just lazy and sad.
Mr Neubieser loses credibility and his pretend objectivity at that point.
Money influencing campaigns is not new to the current administration.
His argument on limiting political contributions would be stronger and more impactful without the obvious progressive agenda and bias.
Bruce Roy, in response to your position on a day off for elections I say no. The only people guaranteed to make out with another holiday are government employees. Private businesses may or may not accept another holiday. Consider all the people who are required to work on existing holidays in addition to the essential services such as fire and police. Stores, gas stations, hospitals and the list goes on. You won’t get more people to go to the poles by having another holiday but you will drive up taxes by another paid day off or double time and one half if working for government employees.
Perhaps Carter could explain how the Progessive Party dominate governance over Burlington for decades resulted in a drug infested, crime infested, unaffordable, systemic poverty, racist, driven-into-the ground with a hammer and sickle rat hole? So much so, business owners have to holler out SOS – Mayday Mayday to Governor Scott? I’ll wait.
I do give kudus for the thespian chops of political grandstanding and theatrics. Good cop/bad cop – all that is required is a skill to memorize lines of a script and whole-hearted belief in fairytales. There is no business like show business.
By the way, how many absentee ballots are on the way via Amazon for the next selection season? (See Maine selection shenanigans for more details)
Ranked choice voting flies in the face of our representative form of government in a constitutional republic. A culture which awards everyone a trophy just for participating, or who gives a pass with ranked choice voting to those who have not been elected, or says that the next person in the batting order should lead, incentivizes mediocrity instead of merit, stifles creativity, and exalts equity above excellence. Ranked choice voting is a strategy of sour grapes losers who were fairly and squarely not elected by the electorate, however large or small that electorate might be.