Reply #56: The problem is Buckley vs. Valeo

[library_max]

That decision gave campaign contributions the legal status of protected speech. Unless and until that is overturned, nothing any of us can say will reduce the influence of corporations and fatcats on American politics. Campaign finance reform under Buckley v. Valeo is well-meaning but useless and potentially worse than nothing, as we see in the effects of McCain-Feingold.

Guess how we could go about getting Buckley vs. Valeo overturned? Why, by getting a Democrat in the White House who would appoint SC justices who are not conservative ideologues.

Blaming it all on "the two parties" is like blaming rabbits for eating the vegetables in your garden instead of buying them at the grocery store. The parties have to do what they can to survive. Change the rules and you'll change how the parties operate. But while Buckley vs. Valeo is the main rule, all we can do is deal with the system as it stands.