Luddite PACs and Candidates: Texas Political Funds that Dodge

Luddite PACs & Candidates: Texas Political Funds that Dodge the Internet

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Table of Contents

I. Introduction

II. Unexempted PACs & Candidates

III. Statewide Luddites

IV. Legislative Luddites

V. Judicial Luddites

VI. Luddite Educators

VII. Large Luddite PACs

VIII. Recommendations

IX. End Notes

Apology To Ned Lud
Webster's defines “Luddite” as a pejorative term for people who are opposed in principle to technological change. Webster’s cites the term’s origins in the early 19th century labor struggle against textile mill owners who slashed wages and fired thousands of workers after the introduction of power looms.

While Webster’s refers to this struggle’s leader, Ned Lud, as “feebleminded,” more thorough accounts have concluded that Lud led a brilliant, uphill campaign that had some success in its ultimate goal—which had more to do with reducing human misery than it did with destroying machinery (see E.P. Thompson’s, The Making of the English Working Class). While informed minds can differ on Lud’s effectiveness, his goals were loftier than those of the politicians who refuse to electronically disclose their campaign donors and expenditures.

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Matthew J. Connolly is the primary author and researcher of this report.

Jason Stout of Stout Illustrations designed the cover art.

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Texans for Public Justice is a non-profit, non-partisan advocacy and research organization that tracks the role of money in Texas politics.