Here is a compelling interview by Bill Moyers of two college legal professors, Lawrence Lessig and Zephyr Teachout, on the pervasive influence of money in politics. Prof. Teachout ran for governor of New York in 2014, and she gives first-hand testimony of how the desires of her contributors stayed in the back of her mind when she spoke in public.
A coordinated effort to elicit council resolutions from many cities during the week of June 11, 2012, is provided by the Resolutions Week movement. This site provides a map of cities where resolution activities took place, along with suggested strategies and support to further this goal. Here is a link listing the members of the Resolutions Week movement.
Here’s a link to a section of the Open Secrets website, where you can find lists of some of the donors to Super PACs and political contributions by special interest groups. This web site also contains a wealth of information on lobbying, revolving door, and other intrusions of wealth on the political process.
The Campaign Legal Center and Democracy 21 are addressing the current abuse of the 501(c)4 “social welfare” non-profit organization status, which allows donor names to be kept secret.
A 2012 video by ITVS, titled “Why Poverty? Park Avenue: Money, Power & the American Dream describes life of the wealthy and the influence of money in politics.
The March 30, 2012, edition of This American Life on PBS is titled “Take the Money and Run for Office.” This one-hour program is available to listen to and download here. It offers an excellent look at the pervasive influence of money and fundraising on our political system at all levels.
Here’s an article indicating that unions are advocating a constitutional amendment, even though it might affect union spending clout.
An article in the May 21, 2012, New Yorker details the process by which the Supreme Court arrived at the Citizens United decision. It reveals the extent to which ideology drives the majority of the Roberts’ Court, and how Justice Roberts had the case re-heard to expand the scope of the question the Court was able to rule on.
Here’s a link to the excellent, recent Bill Moyers’ interviews with David Stockman and Gretchen Morgenson which advocate a constitutional amendment, to limit the dangerous political influence of the ever-expanding financial services sector.
And here’s another excellent interview by Bill Moyers, uncovering the pattern of recent, extreme Supreme Court decisions which grant exceptional powers to corporations and undermine our democracy.