Campaign contributions influencing politicians is not some overstated conspiracy. Our elected officials spend an enormous portion of their time fundraising, and they’re not dialing for dollars from working-class Americans. They’re spending hours every day talking to wealthy donors, corporate interests, and lobbying groups.
When you spend half your professional life surrounded by people with money and power, you inevitably begin to see the world through their lens and prioritize their concerns. That’s not rocket science. It’s human nature.
The result is a political system where the donor class gets access, influence, and attention, while ordinary people are left wondering why so little ever changes in their favor.