America's affordability crisis didn't happen overnight.
Many Americans believe two changes could strengthen democracy and improve affordability:
1. Reduce the influence of money in Congress in 2026.
2. Learn how to recognize misinformation before it shapes public opinion.
Trust in government would improve, and life would become more affordable.
“Votem All Out”
“Help Save Democracy Now,
Reclaim the American Dream”
2026 Bi-partisan Movement
Why Democracy Matters
A healthy democracy depends on informed citizens, free elections, an independent Congress, and accountability.
When money and misinformation distort public decision-making, trust declines and solving national problems becomes harder.
This site examines two questions:
Has money gained too much influence over Congress?
How can citizens better evaluate political information?
Why Affordability Matters
· Americans are paying more for housing, healthcare, childcare, and everyday necessities.
· Why?
· Inflation is only part of the story.
Has life become more expensive?
HOUSING
HEALTHCARE
FOOD
EDUCATION
HOUSEHOLD
WAGES
SUMMARY
The summary chart illustrates a significant divergence: several major household costs such as healthcare(+108%), college tuition (+102%) and home prices (+52%) have risen substantially faster than typical real wages since 1994.
How Money Changed Congress
Congress: The People’s Check on Power
Congress controls federal spending, writes our laws, and serves as a critical check on executive power. Its fundamental responsibility is to represent the interests of the American people—not powerful donors, corporations, or special interests.
Yet over the past several decades, rising campaign costs, lobbying, and the growing role of private money in elections have raised concerns about whose interests Congress represents.
Over the past 15 years, Congress has enacted policies that critics argue have disproportionately benefited large corporations and wealthy investors, including:
Major corporate tax advantages — including accelerated depreciation, R&D incentives, international tax provisions, and the 2017 reduction of the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%.
Industry-specific subsidies and tax credits that provide targeted financial advantages.
Deregulation in major industries.
Tax policies that can favor investment income over wages.
Pandemic-era business assistance and other corporate support programs.
Policies that critics argue have weakened workers’ bargaining power and unionization.
· At the same time, Americans have faced rising costs for housing, health care, education, food, and other necessities, while many workers have seen relatively modest real-wage growth.
· The result has fueled a fundamental question:
· Is Congress working primarily for the people—or for those with the money and influence to shape its decisions?
· A representative democracy requires an independent Congress that puts constituents before contributors and public interest before special interests.
Money has reshaped Congress—and Congress has reshaped the economy.
Timeline
1980
Manufacturing increasingly moved overseas, lowering prices but reducing millions of U.S. manufacturing jobs.
2010
Citizens United v. FEC expanded protections for independent political spending by corporations, unions, and other organizations. Corporations, labor unions, nonprofits, and other organizations have the right to spend unlimited amounts of money independently to advocate for or against political candidates.
2026
The Supreme Court further expanded political party spending in coordination with candidates. The Court struck down federal limits on how much national political parties can spend in coordination with their own candidates for Congress and the presidency.
The High Cost of Buying Political Influence
Running for Congress has become extraordinarily expensive.
In the 2024 election cycle, the average House incumbent needed to raise roughly $713,000, while the average Senator needed approximately $2.2 million.
Where does that money come from? Increasingly, it comes from Super PACs, corporations, lobbyists, billionaires, and political party fundraising networks—not ordinary voters.
These powerful donors don't contribute simply out of generosity. Critics argue that large political contributions can buy access, influence, and favorable government policies.
Since the 2010 Citizens United decision, the amount of money flowing into federal elections has exploded. Critics contend that this has given wealthy donors, corporations, Super PACs, and special interests disproportionate influence over Congress. Concerns have also grown over members of Congress trading stocks while potentially having access to non-public information.
Meanwhile, working Americans have faced a very different reality. Wages have lagged behind productivity, while the costs of housing, health care, education, and other necessities have continued to rise. Tariffs, which can function as taxes on imported goods and raise consumer prices, can add further pressure on household budgets.
There is also growing concern that money and political power reinforce one another. Campaign funding, party pressure, lobbying, and other political incentives can make it difficult for elected officials to put constituents' interests ahead of Party and Executive Branch priorities and powerful financial interests.
The result can be political polarization, gridlock, and declining public trust.
Our democracy is supposed to give every citizen an equal voice—not give those with the most money the loudest voice.
Call to Action:
Citizens Can Help Strengthen American Democracy
If you believe unlimited money has too much influence in federal politics and is the major cause of affordability, inequality, corruption in Congress, and the erosion of democracy:
Ask your members of Congress where they stand on campaign finance reform. Would they support: legislation to reverse Citizen’s United, public financing of federal elections, and the elimination of PAC monies?
If Congress won’t approve federally funded elections:
Help to Save Democracy —— “Votem All Out” in 2026.
Reclaim the American Dream
Join the 2026 Bi-partisan Movement
2. Vote in the 2026 election.
3. Share evidence-based information.
4. Encourage respectful civic discussion.
Democracy works best when informed citizens participate.
Learn How to Separate Facts from Misinformation
Every day we encounter claims about politics, health, economics, and current events.
The challenge isn't finding information—it's deciding what deserves your trust.
“Validating Truth in the Era of Misinformation and Fake News” teaches a practical method for:
evaluating evidence
checking sources
recognizing bias
distinguishing facts from opinion
making informed decisions
The goal isn't to tell you what to think.
It's to help you think more critically.”
Presented By: William E. Bardwell, MBA, validatingtruth@gmail.com
Co-author: “Validating Truth in the Era of Misinformation and Fake News”
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