Campaign finance woes got you feeling on the ropes as a concerned citizen, especially one that does not make $250,000.00 a year? Rest assured that there is an answer to your problems. It needs reform. And, while we are at it, let's make it a governmental profit center.
It's short but not sweet....
Here it is, the elegant 50% Solution:
All campaign contributions over $100.00 to any one federal political party, political action committee, politician or candidate will be taxed by the federal government at the rate of fifty percent. This means that a contribution of $200.00 would be taxed $50.00, all contributions would be subject to the formula (X - 100)/2 = Tax, where X = the amt. of contribution. Individuals and entities that contribute large sums of cash to any political cause are trying to change the country for the better (at least in their eyes). So, this tax will be going directly to a good cause, our government.
Tracking contributions has always been a problem, but with the 50% solution, all of the focus can be on the actual cash receipts of the political organization or politician. They will have to keep the books identifying all contributors, contributions and taxes paid. These books are subject to audit by an independent commission operating in conjunction with the IRS. Just like any other IRS audit, there will be factors that trigger audits, like a million dollars in donations without any over $100.00 (thus no taxes paid). And there will be enough manpower on this commission to perform "spot checks" as needed.
Enforcement will be equally as elegant. Fines of 50% of all improperly handled income. Mishandled receipts of over $5000.00 become a felony change for the most senior person in the entity or the politician themselves. Default person will always be the politician.
This forces a more populist approach to campaign finance but does not stop the major contributors cold. If you have the cash to throw around, you shouldn't mind helping the country out, right?