Disclaimer: I’m not an attorney and my knowledge of constitutional law is no better than average. So guidance and knowledge are welcome, but do try to forward the goal rather than flaming me for your own entertainment.
For the most part the problems we have in this country can be solved. The reason they are not solved is institutional graft. By that I mean we have a system of legalized corruption through campaign financing. Because of how our elections are funded every member of congress is beholding to some interest other than we the people.
To correct this problem we need serious campaign finance reform. We need publicly funded elections. We need to pay these people well and we need to prohibit them from receiving any other compensation.
They, the congress of the United States, are not going to change the system because they are directly benefiting from the corruption.
So here’s my proposal. Amend the constitution through the states to establish publicly funded elections. I think the last time an attempt was made to amend the constitution through the states was for the Equal Rights Amendment. That attempt failed. But we have a radically effective new tool in social networking. We could organize to get this amendment on the ballot in every state and push a grass roots movement through social networks. No doubt the opposition would come out with all guns blazing, and that opposition would be mighty, but we’d have a hell of an argument to make that politicians should be beholden to no one other than their constituents.
What do you think? Is it doable?