This is just a thought that hit me as I was reading about the growing importance of the Chamber of Commerce's apparent commingling of funds from foreign and domestic sources and using the resulting amount to influence our domestic elections.
It seems to me that what I want in America is basically that only people who are qualified to participate in the election should be allowed to participate in the campaign. In other words, only registered voters should be allowed to contribute to or to work in the campaigns of candidates or issues on our ballots.
Limits on financial contributions would be in terms of how much each voter could contribute to each campaign.
This simple rule would eliminate a number of things.
First, since corporate entities of no kind can register to vote, it would eliminate all corporate funding of elections. This would exclude corporations, PACs, unions, the Chamber of Commerce, and any other non-human entity from any and all direct participation in elections.
Second, the most powerful and strict interpretation of this principle would limit participation in a particular campaign to people who are qualified to vote in that campaign. This would exclude donating to out-of-state or even to out-of-district candidates and ballot initiatives, referendums, propositions, and so on.
For example, every American who is registered to vote could work for and donate to presidential campaigns. Every registered voter in the state of California could do so for California governors and senators, and on any other state candidate or ballot initiative. Every registered voter in District 1 could work and donate to the congressional campaign, and so on for state legislative offices. Every registered voter here in Davis could work for and donate to our local offices and ballot initiatives, but not for offices or initiatives over in Sacramento or Woodland.
Third, since proof of registration would be required in order to participate in the campaign, all such participation would be made public. This is a good thing, I believe. I believe that our elections should be as public and open as possible.
Fourth, since limits on contributions would be made on a per-voter, per-campaign basis, this simple principle would greatly reduce the advantage of personal wealth to a candidate.
I don't have anything invested in this idea, it's just what came into my head while I was reading my morning Kos.
Greg Shenaut