American voters issued a stinging rebuke of our political system in the form of their responses to a new
New York Times/CBS poll released Tuesday about the role money plays in national politics.
Fully 84 percent of Americans think money has "too much" influence in political campaigns today. Another 66 percent said the "wealthy" have greater influence over elections than others do.
And asked what kind of changes need to be made to our political system, 46 percent said we need to "completely rebuild" while another 39 percent said "fundamental changes." Only 13 percent responded with "minor changes."
Wow. Despite all their misgivings, only 39 percent of respondents were "optimistic" changes would be made in how campaigns are funded, while 58 percent were "pessimistic."
Perhaps Americans are feeling a bit burned by the wisdom the Supreme Court showed in clearing the way for corporate spending and unlimited cash donations in elections in a pair of rulings in 2010 and 2014.
Also, a pretty good issue for Hillary Clinton to be campaigning on—one of the very first, in fact, she raised at her inaugural roundtable in Iowa.
"We need to fix our dysfunctional political system and get unaccountable money out of it once and for all -- even if it takes a constitutional amendment," Clinton said in opening remarks at a roundtable event with Kirkwood students and instructors.