General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsInstead of "Campaign Finance Reform", what about "Campaign Conduct Reform"?
Here's what I'm thinking.
Controlling money in politics is a pipe dream. No incumbent will do it. No underdog will do it. The few attempts over the years have been as effective as a fart in a windstorm.
So how about we regulate, not the money, but the ability to spend it?
Can we make it illegal to run campaign ads, to make speeches, or do *anything* that is obvious campaigning until some specified time in advance of the election in which one is on the ballot? I'd like that to be a week, but maybe a month? Six weeks at most?
I think that would help because the cacophony of "contrast" ads, Harry and Louise conversations, and all the usual bullshit will be so thick, so non stop, so incessant, that it would very quickly become just so much white noise.
elleng
(131,142 posts)and same resistence as occurred this week, re: Disclose Act.
Read about Buckley v. Valeo, an important 1976 decision, and later, 'In 2008, the Court further restricted attempts to minimize the effects of private money on races for the U.S. House and Senate when it struck down the "Millionaires Amendment" in the case of FEC v Davis (originally Davis v. FEC). In 2010, the Court overturned Austin v. Michigan Chamber of Commerce (1990) and part of McConnell v. FEC in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. In Citizens United, the Court interpreted Buckley as providing more expansive First Amendment protections for independent expenditures made on a candidate's behalf. In 2011, the Court further restricted methods of campaign finance restrictions, based on an interpretation of Buckley and Davis in Arizona Free Enterprise v. Bennett, striking down a public financing system put in place 13 years earlier in response to Arizona's widespread campaign corruption scandals.'
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buckley_v._Valeo
Thanks for trying.
Politicalboi
(15,189 posts)Is only show facts. No rearranging words from your opponent, and making it your talking point for a week.