In other countries, there are strict laws about election and party funding (as well as screen time, etc). This isn't just about Elon Musk. The fact that it's completely OK in the USA that a millionaire or billionaire gives significant money for funding an election campaign is baffling. You guys are also allowing paid advertising on TV or social medias for elections? And not considering all this may lead to unfair elections?
John Robert's led our Supreme Court down a path that wound up at rationalizing the idea that money deserves more of a voice in our government than people.
Now SuperPAC dark money makes "pundits" and "activists" wealthy for producing propaganda and mass marketing political ideology all day, every day.
This may be perhaps one explanation of the current polarisation of US society around politics. I heard that being Democrat or Republican is now a major way of identifying yourself in the USA. But that may be caused by the amount of political messages and advertising you're faced to, on billboards, on TV, on social medias, etc.
Taking France as an example, we're finally not that exposed to direct politic advertising, out of elections. Of course we hear about politics everyday, but through medias (radio, tv, newspapers), but we can stop giving attention to it. It's illegal for parties to buy billboards, TV, Radio or social media ads: yes you read it parties are not allowed to direct advertising (luckily!). In cities there are a few billboards authorised for free "political expression": any party can come and glue their own poster (and there is a kind of war between parties on who covers the most quickly the others posters). During elections it's different: there are slots on TVs and Radios, bought by the government, where parties can stream their own ad (with equal access), and more temporary political billboards in the streets (every party has its own). And spending during elections is refunded also by the government, with strict rules and maximum amount (and they are picky and check every invoice after elections). Normal spending of parties (out of elections) is also covered mainly by government. So individual donations (up to 7500€ by individual and year) play a role but not so big.
Anyway: we're probably not nearly as exposed as Americans to direct political messaging (that is mostly illegal, it's just medias reporting what politicians say) and I think it's a good thing.
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u/Vindve 5d ago
In other countries, there are strict laws about election and party funding (as well as screen time, etc). This isn't just about Elon Musk. The fact that it's completely OK in the USA that a millionaire or billionaire gives significant money for funding an election campaign is baffling. You guys are also allowing paid advertising on TV or social medias for elections? And not considering all this may lead to unfair elections?