No, I’m not talking about the Tea Party being a third political party. Looking at how much is budgeted to be spent, though, there IS another party. The Republicans, Democrats, and Koch brothers each plan to spend close to 900 million dollars to win the 2016 elections.
Where is the Koch Party’s pot of gold coming from? Mainly from non-profit groups who, by the way, aren’t required by law to disclose who their contributors are, unlike the Democratic and Republican parties. So, who is contributing how much? Are the Kochs footing most of the bill and, therefore, buying most of the influence to get their ultra-conservative agenda and candidates in? Who else is pouring money into the pot, and whom or what do they represent?
If the Kochs want to act like a political party, they should at least have to abide by the same disclosure rules and make it clear whom and what they’re supporting so we voters can make more informed decisions.
I was surprised to learn that the NFL hasn’t paid taxes since 1966, when “professional football leagues” were added to the IRS code as non-profit organizations. That put them into the same category as tax-exempt charities, such as the Cancer Society, homeless shelters, and churches. At the same time, they were granted an exemption in the anti-trust regulations, giving them a monopoly in terms of negotiating TV rights, thus saving them even more money. (Maybe they need it to pay the up to $29 million yearly salaries of their top executives and the hefty contracts of their top players?)
It makes me wonder why the items we buy–tickets, hot dogs, beer, team clothing, etc.—are astronomically high. And why we put up with it.
I’ve signed a petition (from a reputable organization) asking Congress to revoke this obscene concession of being granted non-profit status and to insist that the NFL pays their share of taxes. If you’d like to sign it, click on http://www.credomobilize.com/petitions/end-the-nfl-s-charity-tax-break?akid=9865.3296984.wBYovR&rd=1&suppress_one_click=true&t=6.