People in more than 30 cities in the United States staged sit-ins to protest against the government’s ＂money politics.＂

　　On April 15th, the American people staged a sit-in protest against "money politics" for the fifth day. The picture shows the American people holding slogans at the protest site.

　　Our reporter Zhang Penghui photo

　　In order to let the public know "America’s corrupt electoral system and hypocritical electoral law", since April 11th, protesters from 33 states in the United States have staged a sit-in demonstration in front of the square of the US Capitol. They shouted slogans such as "end money politics and ensure fair elections", "drive money out of politics", "return Congress to the people" and "end money corruption and ensure free and fair elections", demanding that Congress take immediate action to implement changes, eradicate systematic corruption and abandon money politics. As of April 16, local time, the continuous protests in front of the Capitol Square in the United States have caused more than 900 arrests, breaking the record of the largest number of arrests in the Capitol Square.

　　"In this environment, everything is controlled by big companies, even the government, and the people are the most powerless."

　　Every day, many protesters are arrested for "illegal demonstrations, assemblies and obstruction of justice". According to reports, the protest was supported by hundreds of non-governmental organizations, and more than 4,000 people registered on the organizer’s website, risking their arrest to express their "determination to regain their own democracy."

　　A protester stepped on stilts and wore clothes made of American flag, which were covered with trademarks of big American companies. He told this reporter: "We live in such an environment, everything is controlled by big companies, even the government, and the most powerless is the people who have votes."

　　Andrea Ray, plastered with homemade "Dollar" slogans, tore off a piece of "million denomination" green paper and gave it to reporters, jokingly saying, "Maybe you can run for parliament, too."

　　Christian, a musician from Chicago, wrote: "Democracy means that beggars at the bottom of society who beg in the street and rich people who live in luxury villas all have the same vote. If money is in charge, there is no equality between them … … Whether it was signed at the beginning or now, the spirit of equality in the Declaration of Independence has never been realized. " He believes that this struggle "is not about the Democratic Party and the Republican Party, but about the definition of democracy and the American spirit".

　　Demonstrators stated on their website: "From the campaign for voting rights that began in the 1960s to the recent ‘ Occupy Wall Street ’ Move to ‘ Black people’s lives are at stake ’ Movement, the American people showed great strength. These non-violent movements quickly changed the political climate and kicked off reforms that seemed impossible before. " The protests in front of the Capitol let the American media lament that the "democratic spring" is coming to Washington. However, some media do not agree with this, thinking that this is just a replica of "Occupy Wall Street". Christopher Green, a media person and founder of "Alternative Media Television", is pessimistic about whether the protesters’ goals can be achieved. He said: "Most Americans know that the problem of democracy in the United States is systematic and the elections in the United States are rigged. Of course, the American people have reason to be angry, because politics is dominated by money, which is also one of the root causes of oligarchy and populism in the United States. Money will not disappear from the election. Looking closely at this year’s general election, you will find that money is still the dominant force. "

　　"Everything here needs to change, but I don’t see any politician with this ambition. Maybe only we can bring about change."

　　The "Election Justice Project" jointly completed by the Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University and the School of Government and International Relations of the University of Sydney holds that the United States has the worst elections in established democracies, especially in terms of election fund-raising and voter registration. According to the data provided by the non-governmental organization "On our behalf", in the past five years, the 200 most politically active companies in the United States spent a total of $5.8 billion to influence US policy making and obtained a total economic return of $4.4 trillion.

　　The year of election is often also a year when "money politics" is highly active. In the eyes of these protesters, Washington is increasingly addicted to "money politics", while big companies and rich people manipulate politics, damaging people’s right to participate in politics on an equal footing. In 2016, the United States will hold presidential elections and congressional elections. Some analysts estimate that this year’s presidential election expenses are expected to exceed $5 billion, easily breaking the record of $2 billion set in 2012 and becoming the "most expensive election" in American history.

　　When analyzing the relationship between money and politics a few days ago, the website of the American "Atlantic" monthly magazine said ironically that people are generally aware of the problem of money in politics, and even Sanders of the Democratic Party and Trump of the Republican Party agree with this. Throughout the campaign, Sanders complained about the corrupt influence of wealthy donors and corporate donors, while Trump exposed the whole game, saying that he had sent money to politicians to curry favor with them. And the results of these two people’s elections show that people hate the role that money plays in politics.

　　Wendell Porter, an American political writer, believes that the "Democratic Spring" is regarded as a protest led by the left wing of the Democratic Party. In fact, the right wing of the Republican Party has also joined in, because everyone is concerned about what is wrong with our democracy.

　　Some people who participated in this sit-in demonstration were supporters of Sanders and wore signs supporting him, but they made it clear that all the candidates, including Sanders, did not do enough. Bob, the chef who came from Baltimore to participate in the protest, said, "Everything needs to change, but I don’t see any politician with this ambition. Maybe only we can bring about change."

　　"Our politics and democracy have been riddled with holes. It’s a shame that the American media didn’t come to report and needed foreign media to deliver these news!"

　　USA Today commented frankly: "Protesters still don’t get the kind of public attention they want." Arousing public concern and promoting the reform of the electoral system is the biggest goal of the protesters, but from beginning to end, the protesters have never aroused the "passion" of the American media.

　　According to the statistics of "Interceptor" website, more than 400 people were arrested in the demonstration sit-in on the 11th, and the American media remained silent. CNN did not report it, while the reporting time of Microsoft National Cable Broadcasting Corporation and Fox TV was only 12 seconds and 17 seconds respectively. Not only in the reporting time, but also in the content, both media said that the protesters were concerned about the issue of election rights, without mentioning the slogans of "opposing systematic political corruption" and "opposing money politics". In contrast, when an anti-Muslim demonstration took place in Phoenix, Arizona in May 2015, CNN made a long live broadcast. At the scene of this protest, demonstrators shouted "Where is CNN?"

　　A protester named Williams told this reporter that the media did not report because big media groups have close ties with "those in power". For example, Comcast, the largest cable TV and broadband network operator in the United States, is an important interest group, an important donor of the two parties and the parent company of Microsoft National Cable Broadcasting Corporation. According to Elizabeth Werner, vice-chairman of Cantar, a media analysis agency, the candidates will spend $4.4 billion on TV advertisements in this year’s general election.

　　Amir Breka, from Kentucky, told this reporter: "I voted for Senate Majority Leader McConaughey twice, and now I have lost my job. He has done nothing, and the Senate he led has done nothing, not even discussing the approval of the nomination of the Supreme Court Justice. As long as Congress is not thoroughly reformed, the future of this country is the same. "

　　When it comes to the absence of American media, Peter in North Carolina is quite helpless: "I risked being arrested to protest in front of the Capitol to arouse people’s attention. Our politics and democracy are already riddled with holes, and the American media actually don’t report it. It’s a shame that foreign media are needed to convey this news to the American people!"

　　Adakova, a policeman on duty, told the protesters around him: "Go home quickly. It’s useless for you to protest here. Do you think people in Congress can hear you?" Williams was indignant: "Politics in Washington must be changed. We believe in our own strength. "

　　(Washington, DC, April 17th)