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twitterLETTER TO THE EDITOR:
Publicly financed elections would give us fair shake
Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009 | 2:03 a.m.
I am convinced that campaign finance reform is the only thing that matters, and I am ready to give any political energy I have left to efforts for public financing of elections.
My ongoing personal efforts for meaningful health care reform are dwarfed, stomped on and almost obliterated by deep-pocketed special interests that can hover in the halls of Congress, fill campaign coffers and twist arms. How does a voter 3,000 miles away from Washington compete with the health care industry, which has six lobbyists for every member of Congress?
I am one of thousands of caring voters across the country who walked neighborhoods, made phone calls and sent small donations, but how can we possibly compete with the special health care interests that contribute millions of dollars?
In addition, anti-choice groups, particularly certain religious groups, are patting themselves on the back for the regressive abortion amendments to the House bill, congratulating themselves for campaign donations that made the difference. The separation of church and state seemed to dissolve on this one, so it might be time for the IRS to take a close look at religious tax exemptions.
Campaign finance reform will level the playing field. Maybe then elected officials will do what is best for the country.
The writer is a registered nurse.
Discussion: 21 comments so far…
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hey patricia...
you have put your finger on the heart of the matter..
campaign contributions are the root of all evil in america...
You are correct in your assessment - I even agree with Birdie on this one. We need to get congress to create legislation limiting contributions from corporations. There needs to be some reform so the rich person cannot buy their seat into congress over the poor canidate. Stop all lobbying - congress needs to listen to the people they represent.
Birdie - we found some common ground, I knew it was out there.
Birdie, what are doing up 3:19? The stripper mobile is next on your route
If the IRS cuts off the tax exempting of any major church groups, the leaders of those church groups should call on all their members to refuse to pay income taxes.
Good luck with your efforts, Ms. van B. Sorry I don't have the time or energy to help.
Imaging driving down the 215 at 20 over and having a NHP officer stop you. Oh geeze,...how do I get out of this you ask? Oh the spare $50 I have in my wallet might work. You try it and off to jail you go for bribery, only in Washington its done on a daily basis in the amounts of hundreds of thousands. In Washington bribery and funny money controls the lives of all of us nationwide, and its one main reason, if not the only reason Lieberman wants to foul up healthcare (read: Atena/Connecticut/Joe's Wife) Why is it legal for our select elected lawmakers but not a regular guy?
While were trying to get the bribery out of Washington lets add term limits into the mix so these people aren't there long enough to get comfortable and drown in corporate dollars funneled through the lobbyiests. And we thought there was prostitution in Vegas! Washington is the poster city for a different kind of soliciting and it hurts the country worse than any other kind. We know what todays politician is, and we watch as they negotiate a price.
Sone years ago Eddie Murphy was in a movie called Distingushed Gentleman. Rent it if you haven't seen it because it shows how things work (or don't work) in DC. One line I remember,..."if you vote this way you get this much, if you vote that way you get that much,...you can't lose"
I don't think this is the way our founding fathers visualized government. Today our government and the "elected" are ruining us as a country.
Did I hear someone say REVOLUTION?
This is the same way the Romans did it.
Public financing of politician's campaigns is a really bad idea. Not only is it a direct taxpayer subsidies for politicians it is a complex system that protects incumbents. It has been a disaster almost everywhere it has been tried.
We NEED campaign finance reform! The inherently evil "campaign contribution" system we have today is patently dishonest. You essentially BUY your seat. Nearly every U.S. Senator, for example, is a multi-millionaire. And as soon as the lobbyists & campaign contributors get their hooks into you, you are owned; Lock, Stock, and Barrel. A Corporate/Government liaison.
Nevada has Harry Greid. The finest politician money can buy.
Just one example of how government campaign finance laws squash the little guy (or gal in this case) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZXlPdF5x...
Gmag probably thinks unions and government employees aren't special interest groups.
No, the campaign finance reform is evil. It complicates rules and makes it very difficult for citizens to organize against their government or for what they believe in. It does NOT stop big corporations or big unions. They have the legal manpower and money to navigate the complex rules.
Gmag,
The easiest way to stop millionaires from buying politicians is to stop politicians from giving away all our money! Limit the power and scope of government and you won't have to worry about it.
Pat,
Please try to refrain from writing what you think I probably think.
Of course unions and government employees are special interest groups. Heck, your little club for right-wing neo-cons is a special interest group, right? Man, there is likely a LOT of "SPECIAL INTEREST" involved with that baby, am I right, Pat?
So, am I to unnerstand from your genius that you believe anyone should be able to spend any amount of money from any available source in order to win an election? Is that correct, Pat?
That would be the free market way would it not?
castle...
Yep. But you're being facetious right?
Yea, I am but it did kind of fit the "best money can buy" label some political leaders carry.
P. Gibbons:
Big unions support American workers. They need
all the help they can get from greedy Repubs.
Any church group should be taxed for sticking
it's nose into politics.
Gmag - yes. Any amount. Any time. No restrictions. Disclosure is fine, but most of the rules for campaign financed are so complicated the average person won't have a voice. That is the point. People like you are, unfortunately, tricked into supporting this utterly anti-democratic proposal.
And gmag, most people on the left don't seem think their side has a special interest group -- they're "for the people" after all.
Gibby.....Gibby....
Why don't you just go ahead and say it? You're not in favor of any type of democracy. Basically, you believe in a plutocracy or a oligarchy. The old aristocracy thing would also work just fine for you....
It's all about money with you.....you actually believe that those with the most money should run the show.......no exceptions!