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Back to To the Point

To the Point

The Political Corruption of Small Money

Especially since the infamous Citizens United case, we hear a lot about the political influence of Big Money. Corporations and vastly wealthy individuals pour tens of millions of dollars into statewide and national campaigns. What we don't hear a lot about is the pervasive political influence of Small Money.

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By Warren Olney • Feb 24, 2016 • 1 min read

Especially since the infamous Citizens United case, we hear a lot about the political influence of Big Money. Corporations and vastly wealthy individuals pour tens of millions of dollars into statewide and national campaigns. What we don't hear a lot about is the pervasive political influence of Small Money. That's the subject of the new book, Five Dollars and a Pork Chop Sandwich: Vote Buying and the Corruption of Democracy. The author is Mary Frances Berry, former Chair of the US Commission on Civil Rights. She is a Professor of American Social Thought and History at the University of Pennsylvania.

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Warren Olney

    former KCRW broadcaster

  • KCRW placeholder

    Katie Cooper

    Producer, 'One year Later'

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    Paul von Zielbauer

    Co-founder of Geezer magazine, former producer for To the Point and Which Way LA?; former reporter for the New York Times

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    Evan George

    Director of Content, News

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    Mary Frances Berry

    University of Pennsylvania

    NewsNationalPolitics
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