the problem with campaine finance reform (rant)

[7th_Sephiroth]

there is no way to get any politician behind it because they would be working against thier own intrests cause the current system is just open bribes, and who would want to give up thier free money? One case is that disney's charaters were about to become public domain (and loose them billions) so in 1998 they made $7.5 million in campain contributions, the same year an (unconstitutional) law was past extending copyrights another 80 years. I personally would pay an extra 5% sales tax just so our "representitives" would represent the people and the goverment pay for ads and what not, than be bribed by disney so M*ckey M*use can keep makeing them money. also B*sh has gotten over 400 MILLION in campain contributions, WHAT THE HELL IS HE GONNA DO WITH ALL THAT MONEY? seriously.

[theivoryqueen]

1. there is one way

there is a mechanism by which the states can force legislation. It's been done a few times - I think repealing prohibition was an example - tho' I might be wrong. Anybody up on constitutional law?

[7th_Sephiroth]

3. yeah thats the ticket

there has to be SOME way, when EVERYONE is on the take

[Cha]

2. FYI .....Campaign is spelled Campaign!

And when we get our Dem candidate ...all 100 Million of us should send in $10.00 to get rid of bush.

[7th_Sephiroth]

4. sorry

i'm not the best speller

[theivoryqueen]

5. we knew what you meant

this is a topic that is aggravating at the very least. it is the root of most corruption in the heart of our government and as you said, no politician is willing to realistically and meaningfully tackle it. He/She would be crucified by the rest.

[7th_Sephiroth]

6. please ask any lawyers on DU

to look this kind of thing up to see if there is an escape clause for something like this

[camero]

7. Um, excuse me

How do you think you can correct his spelling when you spelled it the same way?

[7th_Sephiroth]

8. tough word

isint it?

[camero]

10. It can be

I didn't really notice it in your subject line. It's an honest mistake.

You made a good post. Maybe we should pass a constitutional amendment making all campaigns publicly financed by starting statewide referendums so state legislators cannot defeat it.

[7th_Sephiroth]

12. that is one way

thats why i'm asking lawyers to look at the legal and the people to start a grass roots campaign, when i read about the disney thing and bush's $400 mil it seriously pissed me off

[KittyWampus]

9. Some Politcians and Corporations Are Tire Of The Money Chase

And from time to time, I've heard them speak out....

Perhaps this is the sort of thing to be done on the state level?

Grassroots getting initiatives going. Keep bringing them up until they pass?

Public financing may not be a cure all but it sure might help...

[7th_Sephiroth]

11. public funding will help

it will also make coporate donations illegal and as much as needs to be donated (it will go down, because larger sums are easier to trace) a law should be made to punish both the politician and the coporation

[Wellong]

14. they are illegal

corporate donations to candidates are illegal last I checked. Someone correct me if I am wrong. But I do not think a corporation can write a hard money donation check.

[7th_Sephiroth]

16. if thats the case

please help me investigate the disney thing further to see if they broke a law

[MadHound]

13. Long hard row to hoe, but here goes

There are four states that currently have publicly financed campaign laws, Maine, Vermont, North Carolina, and Arizona. Twenty eight more states have the power to put such issues on the ballot through initiative petition. THAT is what needs to be done. Once we have people in thirty two states who are in power, and are not beholden to the corporate interests, we have a majority and start performing REAL reform work. I find this to be the most important issue that is facing all of us currently. Until we have publicly financed campaigns, and real campaign reform, nothing else of meaningful value can be accomplished.

[7th_Sephiroth]

15. do those laws

go for just local? and if so are they enforced, and whats the best way to get the law on the ballot?

[camero]

17. What I wonder is.

How do you start a petition drive? I have never checked into it but I would think it would take alot of money.

[7th_Sephiroth]

18. yeah i think so too

i havent looked into it yet either but i think i'm gonna spearhead a grass roots campaign myself to get these horrendous practices changed (and i'm in FL, too so we can propaghandize Jeb bush while were at it)

[camero]

19. Where in FL?

I'm in Pinellas County. I would think the right way to go would be to start at the local level. Or maybe there are some statewide activist orgs. who would help?

edit: with the recent outrages of the legislature, I would think that Floridians would be more than willing to fund publicly financed campaigns.

[7th_Sephiroth]

20. i'm in pensacola

Escambia county, I'm me and we can work together to see if we can get some help

[7th_Sephiroth]

21. kick

for its importance

[7th_Sephiroth]

22. this is really

an important issue, and i dont think things will change until people will wise up about it