Oregon Democratic Primary Bows to Big Money

Big Money undermines democracy, again.

Shame on Oregon. Two progressive candidates were defeated by Big Money in its 2024 Democratic Primary. AIPAC (pro-Israel) tipped the scales in favor of Susheela Jayapal's opponent. The 314 Action Fund (pro-scientist) helped Jamie McLeod-Skinner lose to her opponent.

Should Scientists Be Politicians?

Now, I am not against scientists going to Washington DC. Likewise: mental health professionals, environmentalists, teachers and physicians. They should go there as consultants.

You may be brilliant in your professional field. But you cannot be a brilliant politician unless you understand that Big Money undermines democracy.

Oregon had two primary candidates who support peace, climate action, and universal healthcare. Their successful opponents, if elected to Congress, will NOT be successful at legislation on these issues--because they are captured by wealthy special interests before they start the job. They are beholden to big donors. They are bought! (That’s how they won. They win by cheating. Can I spell it out any more clearly?) Such proprietary representatives will propose tiny, incremental steps toward climate action and/or universal healthcare—and nothing further.

Shame on 314 Action. Their aim is to elect “scientists who will use evidence and facts to fight climate change and fix our broken healthcare system.” That may be a noble pursuit. Except, the problem with Congress is not ignorance. The problem is that Congress Members are blocked and punished, or controlled and rewarded, by wealthy special interests—exactly like the fossil fuel and healthcare industries.

(Meanwhile. AIPAC supports the interests of a foreign country. It should have no influence on American politicians, whatsoever.)

Big Money, Big Power, Big Corruption

Oregon is not the only place that bows to Big Money. It happens all over the world. Here’s the bottom line: Money leads to power and Big Money has too much power. Power leads to corruption and Big Money corrupted the American political system. A corrupted system cannot work as intended.

Greed is the most ordinary human weakness—no matter how it is cloaked in pretty rationalizations. We are ALL susceptible to it, at any station of life, if we are not careful. But due to the size and range of influence, the greed of billionaires and big corporations is massively dangerous.

We need to get Big Money out of the American political and governmental systems. Until we can legislate laws that do that, the people must elect political candidates who reject Big Money—so THEY can write THAT legislation. And THEN Congress is free to produce legislation for meaningful climate action and comprehensive universal healthcare.

First this, then that. Fair elections are a catalyst to the benefits that a democratic people rightfully deserve.

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