# Why are there so many corporate fatcats in American politics and what can be done about them? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 5, 2016, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-corporate-fatcats-in-american-politics-and-what-can-be-done-about-them/773925 "2016-12-05T14:36:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![R3d\_Anonymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aeb1de/32.png) [@R3d\_Anonymous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R3d_Anonymous)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-corporate-fatcats-in-american-politics-and-what-can-be-done-about-them/773925/1 "2016-12-05T14:36:14Z")
They influence elections and policy-making too, leading to corruption. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-corporate-fatcats-in-american-politics-and-what-can-be-done-about-them/773925/2 "2016-12-05T15:12:43Z")
[Campaign finance](http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/03/fix-money-in-politics/473214/) and [voter suppression/apathy](https://theintercept.com/2016/10/27/voter-suppression-is-the-real-election-scandal/). If candidates are dependent on wealthy donors to run campaigns, and discouraged or intimidated voters are disinclined or unable to exercise their voting rights, then corporate fatcats basically have a free hand with the political system. ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-corporate-fatcats-in-american-politics-and-what-can-be-done-about-them/773925/3 "2016-12-05T16:13:54Z")
This is a bad year for arguing this. Clinton raised twice as much money as Trump and outside groups spent three times as much money on her behalf. Despite the most overwhelming monetary advantage in modern times, Clinton still did not win because she was a poor candidate. Money does not buy elections, good candidates, usually but not this year, are able to raise more money and good candidates win elections. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-corporate-fatcats-in-american-politics-and-what-can-be-done-about-them/773925/4 "2016-12-05T16:16:25Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > This is a bad year for arguing this. Clinton raised twice as much money as Trump and outside groups spent three times as much money on her behalf. Despite the most overwhelming monetary advantage in modern times, Clinton still did not win because she was a poor candidate. > Money does not buy elections, good candidates, usually but not this year, are able to raise more money and good candidates win elections. If money doesn’t buy elections, then why do people give money to campaigns? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-corporate-fatcats-in-american-politics-and-what-can-be-done-about-them/773925/5 "2016-12-05T16:22:23Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > If money doesn’t buy elections, then why do people give money to campaigns? In hopes of influence if the person wins. That’s why the smart fatcats often donate to both campaigns. And of course they think it will help win. But if often doesn’t. I think we’re going to see things change in this department as more and more people see their money being pissed away. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-corporate-fatcats-in-american-politics-and-what-can-be-done-about-them/773925/6 "2016-12-05T16:27:45Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > If money doesn’t buy elections, then why do people give money to campaigns? The same reason people vote, and write their congressmen. When the choice is to act, or do nothing, most people will act, even if it is questionable whether the action is effective. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-corporate-fatcats-in-american-politics-and-what-can-be-done-about-them/773925/7 "2016-12-05T16:29:00Z")
> [@puddleglum](#): > > This is a bad year for arguing this. Clinton raised twice as much money as Trump and outside groups spent three times as much money on her behalf. :dubious: How does that make this in any way “a bad year for arguing” about the prevalence of corporate fatcats in American politics, and their corrupting influence on elections and policymaking? AFAIK, the OP is not in any way claiming that the politician receiving the most corporate fatcat money always wins, but simply that the overwhelming influence of the corporate fatcats is a bad thing in general for American politics. I don’t know of anyone who denies that both Clinton’s and Trump’s political careers testify to the corrupting political influence of corporate fatcats. (Although I think it would be difficult to argue seriously that Clinton is substantially **more** influenced by corporate-fatcatism than Trump is, especially seeing how many of his fellow corporate fatcats are now swarming into his Administration.) ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2016, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-corporate-fatcats-in-american-politics-and-what-can-be-done-about-them/773925/8 "2016-12-05T17:08:42Z")
The country was _founded by_ fatcats. After winning a war grounded in issues that primarily affected fatcats. It’s not a bug, it’s a design feature. ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2016, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-there-so-many-corporate-fatcats-in-american-politics-and-what-can-be-done-about-them/773925/9 "2016-12-06T16:51:27Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > :dubious: How does that make this in any way “a bad year for arguing” about the prevalence of corporate fatcats in American politics, and their corrupting influence on elections and policymaking? > > AFAIK, the OP is not in any way claiming that the politician receiving the most corporate fatcat money always wins, but simply that the overwhelming influence of the corporate fatcats is a bad thing in general for American politics. > > I don’t know of anyone who denies that both Clinton’s and Trump’s political careers testify to the corrupting political influence of corporate fatcats. > > (Although I think it would be difficult to argue seriously that Clinton is substantially **more** influenced by corporate-fatcatism than Trump is, especially seeing how many of his fellow corporate fatcats are now swarming into his Administration.) The normal way people argue fatcats influence elections is to buy elections and that candidates with solutions are drowned out by money. This election proves that money does not buy elections. If the problem is not money then how do fatcats get what they want?