0.1486
900 319 0030
x

Corporate Political Funding Challenged in U.S. 

iasparliament Logo
June 29, 2018

What is the issue?

  • Corporate funding of elections and campaigns has been dominating U.S. politics for the better part of past 100 years.
  • But as a response to the ill effects of corporate clout over public policy, a new wave of community funded politics is emerging.
  • In this context, the victory of “Alexandria Ocasio” in the democratic primaries (House of Representatives) is seen as the 1st major success.

What is the significant development within the Democratic Party?

  • A quiet movement against corporate funding in politics appears to be under way within the U.S. Democratic Party and is said to be gaining strength.
  • Recently, the victory of “Alexandria Ocasio” in the primaries to secure a democratic ticket to the House of Representatives seen as a direct indication.
  • Strikingly, Ms. Ocasio is said to have spent a mere $200,000 compared to his $3.4 million war chest of her experienced opponent Mr. Crowley.
  • Importantly, Ms. Ocasio is said to have declined corporate donations throughout her campaign and was very pronounced in her socialist agenda.
  • Her progressive credentials also enabled her to strongly capitalise on the present hard-tactics employed by Mr. Trump against hapless immigrants.
  • Considering the strategic significance, this win will likely reverberate through the Democratic Party, and possibly put the Republicans on notice as well.

 How does the future look?

  • The emerging trend was first piloted on a large scale by Bernie Sanders during his unsuccessful 2016 presidential primaries. 
  • While many politicians are already on board, the victory of Ms. Ocasio indeed marks a major milestone for socialist agenda within the U.S. polity.
  • But merely drawing superficial conclusions based on the sporadic wins registered might not imply the movement as such is gaining momentum.    
  • Notably, the few wins registered by the movement have mostly been from multi-ethnic constituencies that have traditionally backed progressive politics.  

 

Source: The Hindu

 

Login or Register to Post Comments
There are no reviews yet. Be the first one to review.

ARCHIVES

MONTH/YEARWISE ARCHIVES

Free UPSC Interview Guidance Programme