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How the 'squad' is fighting back against pro-Israel PACs with record fundraising

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/squad-fighting-back-pro-israel-pacs-record-fundraising-107050681

A group of progressive lawmakers are fighting back against a multimillion-dollar campaign to push them out of Congress for their vocal opposition to Israel's deadly bombardment of Gaza after the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas

How the 'squad' is fighting back against pro-Israel PACs with record fundraising

10 comments

givesomefucks

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In 2022, AIPAC spent around $27 million targeting progressive candidates. Its war chest this cycle is expected to be more than twice that amount.

In the last quarter alone, the group was the largest donor to George Latimer, Bowman's opponent in the Democratic primary. AIPAC gave the Westchester County executive more than $600,000, representing more than 40% of his $1.4 million in contributions so far, according to campaign finance reports filed Wednesday.

We can't get money out of politics till we get rid of everyone taking these bribes, as long as they're in office they'll vote to keep these bribes legal.

It's why both parties fight progressives harder than each other. Progressives are fucking with both groups ill gotten money

nkat2112

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It's good that this article is demonstrating how people are trying to fight back. And I appreciate the mainstream media references to this and the Justice Democrats. I'm hoping for the best.

For anyone who wants to help, you can find the Justice Democrats on secure actblue - I just made a small donation. Every little bit helps.

https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jd-text-p2p-20240207

killea

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If only average citizens could match AIPAC donations. "I've said it before and I'll say it again: democracy simply doesn't work." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xop8QLIJCpY

edit for reference/link

sailingbythelee

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What's your suggested alternative to democracy?

killea

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It was a Simpson's reference https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xop8QLIJCpY

I should have known I'd be downvoted for that. Was just hoping folks would figure out that I was decrying lobbying but I guess I gotta explain myself better.

But yea, legitimate democracy is kind of a pipe dream outside of ancient Greece. I'd say people in the United States live under a crony-capitalist dominated representative republic. I wish we lived under a socialist-capitalist representative republic with short term limits and built in incentives for education and voter participation. We can all have our dream.

sailingbythelee

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Sorry about that. I missed the reference, though I see you've updated your comment with the link. Anyway, yes, electoral reform is desperately needed.

FenrirIII

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No more humans.

killea

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Kill all the humans. (That is a Futurama reference)

Deceptichum

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Direct democracy?

sailingbythelee

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Its a good idea, though the application is somewhat limited. Most government business is complex, boring and technical, but direct democracy is feasible for a few issues that the public is invested in. The US, at least, already has some direct democracy in the form of ballot questions. However, too many ballot questions would be exhausting and virtually no one would be able to keep up. No, we have representative democracy for good reason. Rather than direct democracy, we need electoral reform. Various forms of proportional representation might tick your boxes, or perhaps something more radical like non-geographic elections.