Follow the Money (The Feedback Loop)

Curriculum: The Rise and Fall of Broad-Based Prosperity in the U.S. (1948–Present) · 4:26

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Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Back in forty-eight the middle class was strong
Factory workers bought their homes, the dream lived on
But money started talking in a different way
Interest groups and lobbies came to stay
They whispered in the ears of those in power
Trading favors by the hour

[Chorus]
Follow the money, watch it flow
From wealth to influence, then policy grows
The feedback loop keeps spinning round
More wealth means more political ground
Interest groups and lobbies play
Campaign cash sets the agenda every day

[Verse 2]
Regulatory capture took its hold
Agencies meant to serve got bought and sold
The wealthy few could hire lawyers by the dozen
While working folks were left without their cousin
In the halls of power, money speaks so loud
Drowning out the everyday crowd

[Chorus]
Follow the money, watch it flow
From wealth to influence, then policy grows
The feedback loop keeps spinning round
More wealth means more political ground
Interest groups and lobbies play
Campaign cash sets the agenda every day

[Bridge]
Voter coalitions used to split by class
Rich versus poor, but that time has passed
Now culture wars divide the working masses
While wealth concentrates in upper classes
Partisan realignment changed the game
Different tribes but outcomes stay the same

[Verse 3]
The cycle keeps on turning, year by year
Those with gold make policies crystal clear
Tax breaks for the wealthy, rules that favor few
While prosperity for all just won't break through
The feedback loop grows stronger with each turn
When will the working people's voices earn

[Chorus]
Follow the money, watch it flow
From wealth to influence, then policy grows
The feedback loop keeps spinning round
More wealth means more political ground
Interest groups and lobbies play
Campaign cash sets the agenda every day

[Outro]
From nineteen forty-eight until today
Money found its political way
The loop keeps spinning, wealth decides
While broad prosperity slowly dies

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