Campaign Finance Reform
Follow the money ...
Why don’t we have universal health care? Because the health care and pharmaceutical industries spend over $400 million a year to make sure we don’t. Why don’t we have more efficient vehicles and alternative fuel sources? Because the automotive and oil industries spend over $150 million a year to make sure we don’t. For a rather modest investment, these industries reap billions and billions in profits by ensuring legislation gets passed that is in their interest. [The amounts indicated are approximations of combined campaign contributions and lobbying expenditures. For actual numbers, visit the Center for Responsive Politics (http://www.opensecrets.org).]
Why have EPA standards been relaxed, allowing corporations to release toxins into the environment? Why do we have an incredibly draconian new bankruptcy law? Why can’t Medicare negotiate with pharmaceutical manufactures for lower drug costs for seniors? Why are programs for the poor being defunded while the very rich get tax cuts? Why did President Bush press so aggressively for the “privatization” of Social Security? For each of these questions and more, you’ll find the answer if you … follow the money.
So, what chance do we have against these huge corporations and lobbying groups? Granted, some groups do advocate on behalf of regular people and progressive issues (AARP, Sierra Club, Citizen Action of Wisconsin, etc), but by an overwhelming majority the lobbyists represent large corporations. Our only chance of returning democracy to the people is to enact campaign finance reform.
The cost of mounting a campaign has become so excessive that most politicians feel they must start fundraising the day after the last election and are dependent on large corporate donors and political action committees (PACs). Many talented and dedicated potential candidates are so daunted by the fundraising process they don’t even attempt to run for office.
“If politicians are to be beholden to their funders,
those funders should be taxpayers.
If anybody is going to own government it should be the citizens
and taxpayers, not corporations.
Absolutely none of today’s critical issues will be fixed as long
as private money is funding the electoral system,” writes Jack Lohman in
his book Politicians:
Owned and Operated by Corporate America.
A self-described “life-long
Republican”, Lohman advocates public financing of elections and
recommends adoption of the Clean Money Clean Elections system as
implemented in
Answering the objection to using tax money to fund
political campaigns, Lohman continues:
“Guess what, folks?
Your tax dollars already are being used to fund political campaigns.
It’s just through the back door…. Wouldn’t you rather pay a
fraction of the cost, up front, and in a way that levels the playing
field for all candidates, including third-party and independent
candidates?” According to
Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, tax breaks and other handouts approved by
state elected public officials for special interest contributors cost
It’s time to seriously address the issues of ethics reform, lobbying
reform, and campaign finance reform.
It’s time to make politicians accountable to the people.
It is simply the right thing to do.