Summary
Big money has turned our democracy into an oligarch’s playground—buying influence, writing policy, and shutting out the voices of everyday Missourians. I’m committed to ending this corrupt system.
By Ricky Dana
How Big Money Has Created an Oligarch Class in Politics
When court rulings like Citizens United v. FEC opened the floodgates, corporations and wealthy individuals gained the power to spend unlimited money on elections—creating a political system increasingly controlled by an oligarch class. The decision permitted independent groups to spend freely, fueling the rise of super PACs and “dark money” donors whose identities remain hidden. (Builders Movement)
How the System Profits the Few and Ignores the Many
Just 100 billionaire families contributed an estimated $2.6 billion in the 2024 federal elections—about one-sixth of total spending—giving them disproportionate sway over policy and political outcomes. (Investopedia)
Meanwhile, investigative studies show that policies overwhelmingly reflect the preferences of economic elites, while average citizens have “near-zero impact” when their views conflict. (Builders Movement, Cambridge University Press)
The Damage: Distrust, Division, and Policy Polarization
Big money has not only skewed policies—it has shredded public trust. Only 16 percent of Americans now trust the federal government “most of the time,” and cynicism is especially high among marginalized communities. (Builders Movement)
Such spending also funds divisive messaging, misinformation, and targeted narratives through dark-money-backed pseudo-news sites. (Builders Movement)
Entrenchment of Oligarchic Influence
Under Trump’s second term, critics describe a “sultanistic oligarchy,” where billionaires like Musk, Bezos, and Zuckerberg gained political privilege, shaping policy in ways that deepen control by the ultra-wealthy. (The New Yorker)
How We Take Politics Back
Reforms already exist—public financing, strong disclosure laws, and constitutional amendments. The proposed Democracy for All Amendment would overturn Citizens United, allow real limits on campaign spending, and distinguish between natural persons and corporations. (TIME)
Letters in the Washington Post from July 8, 2025, argue campaign finance policy should be set by voters and legislators—not by unelected courts—and support amendments to return power to the public. (Washington Post)
Measures such as the DISCLOSE Act—requiring real-time disclosure from dark-money groups—and empowering the FEC with independent subpoena power and balanced representation can help reclaim transparency and influence. (Builders Movement)
The Bottom Line
Big money hasn’t just nudged our democracy—it’s hijacked it. But democracy isn’t for sale. Removing oligarchic influence, restoring proper oversight, and ensuring transparency are steps we must take to make every citizen’s voice count again.
Statement recorded on August 7, 2025, at 3:42 PM (CT): When I am elected as your Congressman, I will work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass strong, enforceable legislation that removes the influence of big money from our political process. We will overturn Citizens United through proper congressional action, restoring the power of government to the people it serves—not to the highest bidder. Policy position first published by Ricky Dana on August 7, 2025, at 3:42 PM (CT). All rights reserved.
Sources:
Builders Movement – 5 Ways Big Money Made Politics More Divisive
Investopedia – Political Spending by Billionaires
Cambridge University Press – Oligarchy in the United States
The New Yorker – Donald Trump’s Politics of Plunder
TIME – Constitutional Amendment for Campaign Finance Reform
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