First, I been interested in politics since my high school days, and I'm 62 now. So I have a long perspective. Of course, that does NOT mean my opinion is any better than anyone else's. With that caveat, a piece on the increasing corruption of big-money on our political system.
Courts, at various levels, have decided that donations to candidates and political groups is an expression of free speech in the political arena. OK. They have a point, but there is a very big catch, big-money donations.
My definition: "Big-Money" = LARGE AMOUNTS OF CASH, or equivalent, given to politicians and political support groups at all levels of government (local, state, federal). This cash can come from any individual or group regardless of political party or other affiliation.
Now, why I'm concerned?
Think of big-money being the equivalent of someone shouting in a room where an important meeting is held, and decisions are discussed and made. Decisions that may effect individual lives or the welfare of our country. Now place yourself, an ordinary individual citizen, at that meeting. The question is, would anything you had to say be heard? Would you even get a chance to speak?
From the politician's point of view, if all he/she can hear is the people shouting, what information is he/she getting on any issue? Big-money is given for access, and if politicians who do have a limited amount of time in a given day, only have time to hear people or organizations who have prime-time access.... Can this human being actually have unbiased information on issues?
Note that those who have prime-time access can be from anywhere in our political landscape. Sierra Club, MADD, conservative or liberal think tanks, GM/Ford, Autoworkers Union, on and on. Then, at the top of my list, Lobbyist, who are paid to influence politicians and political decisions.
What chance does an ordinary citizen have to be heard? How far back in line does he have to wait to be seen, if at all?
With political information being heavily from prime-time access sources, are critical decisions about America being slanted to the desires of the few, the people/organizations with prim-time access? Is the desires and wishes of the ordinary citizen being ignored or misrepresented?
Then there's the disconnect of politicians, especially Washington DC politicians, which is real because they spend much too much time seeking money. Money to pay-off debts from their last re-election campaign or to fund their next re-election. This pursuit has become a year-around job and one wonders what time they really have left to critically think about the legislation they are working or voting on. Why do they have to spend so much time in pursuit of money, the EVER INCREASING cost of running a campaign.
Is there a solution? Maybe:
- Take the money completely out of running a campaign.
- Set a limited campaign period.
Note the key word. I am not talking about donations in general, but of the cost to politicians of running a campaign. The ideal case would be a system that would cost the individual running for office nothing. Not a dime. No cost for TV, radio, or newspaper ads (these have the biggest cost). No cost for campaign-only WEB sites.
My personal choice would be, "no politician could do any campaigning prior to 366 days before an election AND they must be registered for the election by no later than 366th day before the election." In effect, limit campaigning to one year prior to an election.
There would be an official election panel, appointed every two years and to serve for two years, to review disputes over what is a campaign related action by a politician under my above proposal. The panel would have an odd number of members (to prevent dead-locks) and drawn from the full spectrum of political interests in our nation, the goal being that no one political interest have a majority on the panel.
For my proposal to work, both #1 & #2 must be implemented. One without the other dooms any reform.
Well, that's enough for this issue of Mage Diaries.
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