There are almost 500 billionaires living in the United States. Having more money than one might know what to do with isn't a problem for a growing number of them as they turn their focus and funds to American politics. From Michael Bloomberg to Sheldon Adelson, they are more than dabbling these days. In some cases, like Bloomberg's, they're even running for office.
Darrell West writes about political activism by the mega-rich and what it means in his latest book, Billionaires: Reflections on the Upper Crust. On this edition of Up to Date West explores with Steve Kraske whether elections can be bought, the ways in which billionaires use their money regarding political races and issues, and just how much of a concerted effort did the Koch brothers make to unseat President Obama in 2012.
Guest:
- Darrell West is the vice president and director of Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution and the founding director of the Center for Technology Innovation. He is the author of 19 books on American politics.
