Sara Gideon Quotes

I think our politicians are bought by the highest bidder and that until we clean up our election system, then we cannot make progress on any of the issues. That's what drives me - we must restore our democracy.

The democratic process is supposed to be one person one vote, but it turns out that money is talking louder than the votes.

Money has too big an influence on our politics in Washington and somehow we need to do something about that.

Our form of democracy is bribery, on the highest scale.

Billionaires like the Koch brothers, casino mogul Sheldon Adelson, and political puppet master Karl Rove should not be able to buy our elections. Secret money should not be able to drown out the voices of the American people and sell our Democracy to the highest bidder.

It starts with campaign finance reform.

When one may pay out over two million dollars to presidential and Congressional campaigns, the U.S. government is virtually up for sale.

If not checked the power of money will soon control the elections of the President, the senators and the members of the House of representatives.

This [political fundraising] is a very sophisticated system … This is a legalized bribery system where no one has to say anything. I don’t have to say what I want—you [the politician] know what I want.

Donald Trump came to a political field that had already been shaped by big money in politics.

I think the notion that we have all the democracy that money can buy strays so far from what our democracy is supposed to be.

Billionaires and corporations buy and sell politicians, while citizens struggle to exercise their right to vote or hold their elected representatives to account.

If you took money out of politics, you'd solve 80 percent of all the problems.

When dealing with American politics, you try to follow the money, and that's where it leads you. It doesn't take you to the electoral college or to Princeton. It takes you down the darker alleys of American life.

The idea of allowing corporations to have unlimited influence on our democracy is very dangerous, obviously.

Until we totally change the way we elect our leaders, until we remove private money from public campaigns, lying will be the de facto method of governance in this country.

But having said that, what's happening with campaign finance reform and our political culture is devastating.

I don't think people want to see someone buy a congressional race.

Spending limits not only do not work, they have the perverse effect of making special interests more powerful and more influential.

Money in politics is like ants in your kitchen. You close all the holes and get them all out or they'll find their way in again.

Money distorts the democratic process in a fundamental way.

Money in politics leads to bad things—and I am bipartisan in that view.

Politicians can be bought and often are.

Washington is rigged to favor people who have an army of lobbyists.

Our democratic system is slowly being corroded and eroded by the influence of PAC money.