Political Donations or Extortion?

You have to wonder if this is the 1890s all over again? Take a look at the political cartoons from the era it could very well be now. The way that the oligarchs were broken was first with the Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890, Theodore Roosevelt used the law to break up the monopolies and he was nicknamed "trust-busting" Roosevelt. The other weapon used to break up the monopolies were... TAXES.

The income tax was created in 1914 (You remember that Al Capone was busted for income tax evasion.)

Musk donates thousands to GOP members of Congress pushing to impeach judge who oppose Trump: Report

Trump push to impeach judges come as administration is accused of defying federal court order on deportation flights

Independent

By Josh Marcus

20 March 2025

Elon Musk has reportedly donated to seven Republican members of Congress, all of whom support the Trump administration’s calls to impeach or ignore federal judges who have halted parts of President Donald Trump’s agenda.

Musk, who has claimed in recent days that such judges are leading a “judicial coup,” gave thousands of dollars in donations each to Representatives Eli Crane of Arizona, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Andy Ogles of Tennessee, Andrew Clyde of Georgia, Derrick Van Orden of Wisconsin and Brandon Gill of Texas, and Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa, according to The New York Times.

The reported recipients are among the loudest voices in Congress pushing to impeach or to otherwise constrain the judges.

"Cha-ching, cha-ching, cha-ching!"

The Republicans lawmakers are quacking in their boots to keep on the right side of Musk.

If the lawmakers don't follow the party line then just like the 1930 the enforcers take over...

Republicans terrified of crossing Trump due to physical threats, Democrat says

Eric Swalwell says threats to them and their families are stopping GOP officials from criticizing president

The Guardian

By Robert Tait

Thu 27 Feb 2025

Republicans on Capitol Hill are shying away from criticizing Donald Trump’s policies over fears for their physical safety and that of their families, a Democratic member of Congress has said.

Eric Swalwell, a Democratic representative from California, said his Republican colleagues were “terrified” of crossing Trump not only because of the negative impact on their political careers, but also from anxiety that it might provoke physical threats that could cause personal upheaval and require them to hire round-the-clock security as protection.

[...]

“I have a lot of friends who are Republicans,” he said. “They are terrified of being the tallest poppy in the field, and it’s not as simple as being afraid of being primaried and losing their job. They know that that can happen.

History has a lot to tell from the 1890s and the 1930s

I will not say that "We have the best government can buy" because this is more like extortion.