We really, really need to take the money out of politics

[Ardent15]

For Christ's sake. The amount of money you need to have to even RUN a political campaign is obscene, let alone actually maintaining a political structure. Ever since the Supreme Court ruled that corporations have the same rights as people (but none of the obligations, campaign donations have become bribery for our politicians. Most of our politicians in both parties represent corporate interests, not the people that elected them.

This has gotten completely out of hand. We need public financing of political campaigns. Screw those who say it is unconstitutional. Money should NOT equal free speech.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I agree completely...

I don't believe it's unconstitutional...

Several states are already doing this, and it works.

But the problems getting it going are nearly insurmountable.

A lot of folks want the money to keep flowing, so the special interest groups continue to have their clout.

[Jenny_92808]

2. You got it right!!!

You are so right. The way the system works now, politicians are bought and paid for.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. Absolutely...

And then they're accountable to those who bought them...

Not the public.

[shraby]

5. And they are the ones who make the laws. You think they

would like to change anything?

[inna]

4. unfortunately, it's just about to get much worse.

The Supreme Court is likely to vastly expand the corporate control over elections - http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/08/opinion/08tue1.html?th&emc=th

[Journeyman]

6. Yep. There's no incentives for people to be whores when money isn't the object of the chase. . .

[LatteLibertine]

7. I doubt it will make a large difference

they are doing the same thing now just through different channels. The most wealthy 1-10% have 70% of all our wealth and a much higher percentage of our politicians.

[Stardust]

8. It is without a doubt the root of all problems facing our political system.

And it's so obvious. :mad:

[Toucano]

9. Public financing of elections should be a huge priority for anyone interested

in preserving some semblance of democracy in the United States.

Alas, there are lots of priorities.

[CurtEastPoint]

10. The bucks are the root of ALL the crap-ola going on w/our non-functioning representative...

government.

It did not used to be like this. And it could change.

[Orsino]

11. Or out of elections.

Or take the whoring-for-dollars aspect away. As it is, we're training our candidates not to listen to us--and then we act all surprised when that's exactly what they do in office.

[unblock]

12. one subtle change -- they don't represent the interests of corporations.

they represent the interests of the extraordinarily wealthy, who happen to build upon their vast fortunes almost exclusively through corporations.

a picky distinction, the point being if we somehow curtailed the power of corporations to corrupt, the filthy rich would just find another way.

doing something about the concentration of wealth is what's needed to put a (more) enduring end to this crap.