Welcome. At the state of the union speech, theres always more than meets the eye. Just out of sight is the reality of how we are governed. The house of representatives, where congress gathers to hear the president , used to be known as the peoples house. But money power owns the lease now and runs the joint from hidden back rooms. Youre looking at the most expensive Congress Money can buy. The house races last fall cost over 1 billion. It took more than 700 million to elect just a third of the senate. The two president ial candidates raised more than a billion a piece. The website politico added it all up to find that the total number of dollars spent on the 2012 election exceeded the number of people on this planet some seven billion. Most of it didnt come from the average joe and jane. 60 of all super pac donations came from just 159 people. And the top 32 super pac donors gave an average of 9. 9 Million Dollars. Think how many teachers that much money could hire. Well never actually
Foundation, a john and polly guth charitable fund. The clements foundation. Park foundation, dedicated to heightening Public Awareness of critical issues. The herb alpert foundation, supporting organizations Whose Mission is to promote compassion and creativity in our society. The bernard and audre rapoport foundation. The john d. And catherine t. Macarthur foundation, committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. More information at macfound. Org. Anne gumowitz. The betsy and jesse fink foundation. The hkh foundation. Barbara g. Fleischman. And by our sole corporate sponsor, mutual of america, designing customized individual and Group Retirement products. Thats why were your retirement company. Welcome. At the state of the union speech, theres always more than meets the eye. Just out of sight is the reality of how we are governed. The house of representatives, where congress gathers to hear the president , used to be known as the peoples house. But money power owns t
Welcome. At the state of the union speech, theres always more than meets the eye. Just out of sight is the reality of how we are governed. The house of representatives, where congress gathers to hear the president , used to be known as the peoples house. But money power owns the lease now and runs the joint from hidden back rooms. Youre looking at the most expensive Congress Money can buy. The house races last fall cost over 1 billion. It took more than 700 million to elect just a third of the senate. The two president ial candidates raised more than a billion a piece. The website politico added it all up to find that the total number of dollars spent on the 2012 election exceeded the number of people on this planet some seven billion. Most of it didnt come from the average joe and jane. 60 of all super pac donations came from just 159 people. And the top 32 super pac donors gave an average of 9. 9 Million Dollars. Think how many teachers that much money could hire. Well never actually
Came from just 159 people. And the top 32 super pac donors gave an average of 9. 9 Million Dollars. Think how many teachers that much money could hire. Well never actually know where all of the money comes from. Onethird of the billion dollars from outside groups was dark money, secret funds anonymously funneled through fictional social welfare organizations. Those are front groups, created to launder the money inside the deep pockets. And dont let anyone ever tell you the money didnt make a difference. More than 80 of house candidates and 2 3 of Senate Candidates who outspent their general election opponents won, and were present and counted as the new congress prepared to hear the president. Remember, money doesnt necessarily corrupt legislators, but it certainly tilts them. Members of congress, i have the high privilege and distinct honor of presenting to you the president of the united states. So lets share some snapshots from the state of the union. Thats speaker of the house john
This week on Moyers Company money will find a way into politics. Money doesnt talk, it swears. So were trying to turn down the ability of money to control things. For our democracy we cannot rely on disagreements among rich people. And theres something about poetry that saves me. Theres something about poetry that energizes me, that brings me to another plane. Fires all the hormones, i dont know what. Something intangible and yet tangible at the same time. Announcer funding is provided by Carnegie Corporation of new york, celebrating 100 years of philanthropy, and committed to doing real and permanent good in the world. The kohlberg foundation. Independent production fund, with support from the partridge foundation, a john and polly guth charitable fund. The clements foundation. Park foundation, dedicated to heightening Public Awareness of critical issues. The herb alpert foundation, supporting organizations Whose Mission is to promote compassion and creativity in our society. The bern