Here’s a hypothesis explaining government today. We all know that money in politics is behind both major parties. But this has made me wonder why the Republicans and Democrats have been so much at war with each other over the past decades. I mean, if the billionaires are supporting both parties, what do they really care if one or the other is in control of Congress, or the White House?

In the last Super Bowl the Philadelphia Eagles played the Kansas City Chiefs. Fans from both cities and across the country spent all sorts of money cheering their preferred team on. Except it wasn’t Philadelphia vs. Kansas City. It was Jeffrey Lurie, worth $5.3 billion, the owner of the Eagles, playing against Clark Hunt, $1.6 billion, owner of the Chiefs.

The NFL is a billionaire’s game, but they’ve convinced us that it’s all about us, and to be passionately involved, and, by the way, to channel our wealth in their direction.

This led me to the hypothesis, unproven theory, thought, that it’s the same with our political parties.

That, yes, the Democrats and Republican both have billionaires behind them, but it’s different billionaires, and they’re fighting each other. Here’s a simplified, but interesting assumption. Say it’s Big Health, pharmaceutical companies and the rest of our incredibly lucrative, profit-oriented health care system, funding the Democrats; and it’s Big Finance, Wall Street, aligned with Big Oil behind the Republicans.

How would this play out?

The Democrats would support programs like Medicare and Medicaid, both of which channel tax dollars to Big Health. But, when given control of both Congress and the White House (Obama years), they would fail to give us a single-payer health care system and instead provide us with a complex kludge, that still sends thousands of Americans into bankruptcy each year.

The Democrats, would also, because they’re not funded by Big Oil, happily enact legislation to protect our national lands from oil and gas drilling, and to move us towards renewable energy and a sustainable climate. And because they’re not funded by Big Finance, happily pass legislation to put constraints on corporate malfeasance.

This also explains a lot of the current Republicans in Congress. They want to reduce taxes on Big Finance, remove constraints on corporate greed, defund renewable energy initiatives, and open lands for Big Oil to drill.

And, get this, they want to cut Medicare and Medicaid, because they don’t mind taking wealth out of Big Health’s coffers.

This also explains the most mysterious of Donald Trump’s cabinet, RFK Jr., who is actively undermining Big Health and pushing for health based on understanding the root causes of an unhealthy America. Dr. Casey Means, the nominee for surgeon general, says Big Health “makes money on ‘managing’ disease, not curing patients.” What’s not to like?

Summarizing, Democrats are doing wrong by us supporting Big Health, but doing right by us undermining Big Finance and Big Oil. Republicans are doing wrong by us supporting Big Finance and Big Oil, but doing right by us undermining Big Health.

Note that neither major party is interested in overturning Citizen’s United and shutting off the money spigot. (The progressives, though, funded by small donors, want it all — good health care, good economy, and good environment.)

How did we get to where we are today? With MAGA Republicans in control? I think, going back to sports, it’s like the days when the New York Yankees dominated baseball. They had more money. Big Finance allied with Big Oil simply has more money than Big Health, and they’re winning.

As to the Super Bowl, having done my research I learned that Jeffrey Lurie, Eagles, was from Massachusetts and made his money in movies which is way better than Clark Hunt, Chiefs, who inherited oil money. Go Eagles!

Dennis Merritt lives in Shelburne Falls. More of his writing is available at denniscmerritt.com where he can be contacted.