The one thing, perhaps not the only thing, the Wisconsin recall election taught us is this: Money doesn’t talk, it screams!
Forty-eight million dollars were spent in Governor Walker’s successful attempt to stay in office. Thirty million from his “war chest” and 18 million from outside contributors who believe the right wing of the political spectrum could not afford to lose this election.
The reason the money is important is because American voters, with few exceptions, do not know the issues, do not discuss the issues with intelligence, and are led to the voting booth by whatever television ad they saw last. Having an electorate mesmerized by the ads makes the money worth a lot more than it ever has in elections. We have written in this minuscule column in the past why we think this is detrimental to our great nation.
Does this mean the billionaires and multi-millionaires are worth more in their citizenship than we who do not have this kind of money?
One final note on this union-busting governor of Wisconsin … and that is simply a small history lesson. When Hitler became Chancellor of Germany, the first thing he did was destroy the unions. He sent their leaders to concentration camps and scattered the members by not allowing them to organize and he destroyed the union halls. Am I saying that Governor Walker is a Nazi? No, but if the shoe fits let the squeak of totalitarian leather scream in your ears and not in mine.
Ronn Mott, a longtime radio personality in Terre Haute, writes commentaries for the Tribune-Star. His pieces are published online Tuesday and Thursday on Tribstar.com, and in the print and online editions on Saturday.
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RONN MOTT’S MINUTE: Does Money Talk?
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