How To Accomplish REAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM
Our government of the people, by the people, and for the people has become a government of the lobbyists, by the politicians, and for the corporations. In order to change this, we must begin steps not to just track or reduce the influence of big money in politics, but to eliminate it. This lens details a common sense plan to remove the influence of lobbyists and corporations in our government and make it possible for ordinary people to run for office as well as providing thoughts of great leaders from the past on this issue.
The Most Powerful Faction In Politics Today
"The single most powerful faction in politics today is not liberalism or conservatism, but privilege and corruption." - Paul Kienitz
Real Campaign Reform In America
The ideals of American government have always been that this is a country, as Abraham Lincoln said, of the people, by the people and for the people. In recent years, as the influence of wealthy corporations and corrupt lobbyists has grown, our government has become one that would be more accurately described as of the lobbyists, by the politicians, and for the corporations.
Drastic steps must be taken to remove the overwhelming influence of this dirty money on our political system. It can be done in a few steps, all of them relatively simple to accomplish, though I am sure supporters of the status quo would argue otherwise.
Does Money Buy Elections?
Stumble It!
Drastic steps must be taken to remove the overwhelming influence of this dirty money on our political system. It can be done in a few steps, all of them relatively simple to accomplish, though I am sure supporters of the status quo would argue otherwise.
- Make all campaign donations anonymous. Pool all donations into a public general election fund. This fund would supply campaign funds for candidates running for ALL offices - from local through national positions. The amount of money a candidate receives would be based upon the office they were running for.
- Accounting for the general fund and each campaign's individual funds would be updated DAILY - not once a quarter as is currently done - and posted to the internet so that any citizen can log in and look at how their money is being spent.
- All private donations to individual candidates would be outlawed. No donations from individuals, corporations, special interests, political action committees, non-profits, etc. No private donations of ANY KIND.
- All candidates would receive FREE AIRTIME on both radio and television. They would receive comparable time slots to their opponents and all candidates would receive the same amount of time.
- There should be no filing fees to run for office. Instead of current requirements and fees, candidates would be required to submit a resume or curriculum vitae detailing their educational and work background, an essay outlining their stands on the issues, a statement of their intent - why they are running for office, and a detailed account of all affiliations with organizations - corporations, political, social, non-profit, board of directors, etc.
- Debates should be held more frequently than they currently are. They should run for a minimum of 8 weeks prior to the election. All candidates should be allowed to participate - regardless of party affiliation. They should be broadcast live on radio, television, and the internet. After the debate has ended, full video should be posted on the internet to allow those who were not able to watch to see it at a later time in its entirety.
- Finally, a voter's guide should be published by local governments and sent to EVERY registered voter at least 8 weeks prior to the election. This guide should be put together in an easily understandable format and will include information on local through national candidates for office. It should include all information obtained by the candidate at the time they filed to run for office along with a detailed voting record for all incumbents.
Does Money Buy Elections?
Stumble It! "Few men have the virtue to withstand the highest bidder. - George Washington"
What To Do About Lobbyists?
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2008 Presidential Campaign
John McCain has accepted donations from lobbyists and political action committees during his primary campaign for the presidency and 7 OF HIS CAMPAIGN MANAGERS ARE FORMER LOBBYISTS FOR COMPANIES IN THE BANKING, PHARMACEUTICAL, AND OIL INDUSTRIES!!
Barack Obama has refused to accept any donations from lobbyists or political action committees, and none of his campaign staff are or have been lobbyists.
VOTE FOR CHANGE THIS YEAR!!
Clean Elections
Clean Elections: Changing the Face of America -- Part One
"Clean Elections: Changing the Face of America" is a video narrated by journalis "Clean Elections: Changing the Face of America" is a video narrated by journalist Bill Moyers on the influence the Clean Elections movement--or publicly financed elections--has had on politics and campaigns in Maine, Arizona, and North Carolina. The video includes interviews from politicians and citizens from Arizona and Maine as well as comments from national organizations including Public Campaign, Common Cause, and Democracy Matters.
Runtime: 5:40
6239 views
7 Comments:
curated content from YouTube
Thomas Jefferson
"I have the consolation of having added nothing to my private fortune during my public service, and of retiring with hands clean as they are empty."
Thoughts on Money and Politics
"The single most powerful faction in politics today is not liberalism or conservatism, but privilege and corruption." - Paul Kienitz
"Democracy is when the indigent and not the men of property are the rulers." - Aristotle
"It is weakness rather than wickedness which renders men unfit to be trusted with unlimited power." - John Adams
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." - Abraham Lincoln
"If ever a time should come when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin." - Samuel Adams
"No man is above the law, and no man is below it, nor do we ask any man's permission when we require him to obey it." - Theodore Roosevelt
"There is...an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents...the artificial aristocracy is a mischevious ingredient in government, and provisions should be made to prevent its ascendancy." - Thomas Jefferson
"Nothing brings out the lower traits of human nature like office seeking." - Rutherford B. Hayes
"The art of governing consists simply of being honest, exercising common sense, following principle, and doing what is right and just." - Thomas Jefferson
"When a man assumes the public trust, he should consider himself public property." - Thomas Jefferson
"Democracy is when the indigent and not the men of property are the rulers." - Aristotle
"It is weakness rather than wickedness which renders men unfit to be trusted with unlimited power." - John Adams
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." - Abraham Lincoln
"If ever a time should come when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin." - Samuel Adams
"No man is above the law, and no man is below it, nor do we ask any man's permission when we require him to obey it." - Theodore Roosevelt
"There is...an artificial aristocracy founded on wealth and birth, without either virtue or talents...the artificial aristocracy is a mischevious ingredient in government, and provisions should be made to prevent its ascendancy." - Thomas Jefferson
"Nothing brings out the lower traits of human nature like office seeking." - Rutherford B. Hayes
"The art of governing consists simply of being honest, exercising common sense, following principle, and doing what is right and just." - Thomas Jefferson
"When a man assumes the public trust, he should consider himself public property." - Thomas Jefferson
Andrew Jackson
"Legislation can be neither wise nor just which seeks the welfare of a single interest at the expense and to the injury of many and varied interests."
Books from Amazon
The Two Percent Solution: Fixing America's Problems In Ways Liberals And Conservatives Can Love by Matthew Miller
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The Fallacy of Campaign Finance Reform by John Samples
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Money and Free Speech: Campaign Finance Reform and the Courts by Melvin I. Urofsky
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