Toward a More Perfect Union: A Prescriptive Approach — Campaign Financing
Campaign Financing
In the wake of the extremely ill-advised and wrongly-decided ruling in Citizens United, which has equated corporations with people and which has opened campaigns up to unlimited financial support from well-heeled donors that demand quid-pro-quo from elected officials for their contributions, it is imperative that a constitutional amendment be enacted to reverse that decision. It is worth noting that, under Theodore Roosevelt, corporate campaign donations were severely restricted; that restriction needs reinstatement on a permanent basis, possibly in the form of an amendment. The ability of powerful corporate lobbies to direct and shape legislation is completely undemocratic and should be illegal. Accordingly, it is proposed that no lobby group or PAC be permitted to contribute money or services to any legislator in any form whatsoever. Their ability to bend the ear of legislators as lobbyists needs also to be balanced with the right of labor and ethnic groups and elderly and youth and other groups to have the same legislative access. Legislators who do not allow one legitimate (i.e. non-hate) group access while welcoming another should be subject to sanctions under ethics rules.
Furthermore, we need to insure that our elected representatives actually represent us and not special interests, by enacting legislation to limit ALL campaign donations to private, individual ones that are capped at a level attainable by most voters. Not only should we outlaw corporate and PAC donations entirely, but all contributions above a certain level (say, $100) be properly accounted for and audited. Such donations must come legitimately from private citizens and must be traceable. A corporation or a PAC that subsidizes any private citizen in making such a contribution will be acting illegally and will be subject to legal action including fines and imprisonment of wrongdoers. Any private citizen accepting such subsidy will also be liable to legal action. Corporate or PAC money could be diverted – in the name of a candidate or office-holder – to charitable causes that demonstrably improve the life and well-being of our citizens. The validity of that charity’s claims to “help” people shall be evaluated based on the findings of an independent and non-partisan committee that – under Federal law – would be selected by popular vote or by non-partisan judicial appointment, and the members of which would be immune to simple removal at the whim of the president or congress without judicial oversight. In other words, PAC or corporate donations to hate groups or overtly partisan organizations would not qualify for any tax benefits.
An even simpler solution would be to outlaw ALL political donations and instead provide campaign funds on an impartial basis from tax revenue.
Annual contribution limits should apply to both primaries and to general elections. For example, a limit of – say – $2700, where one wishes to support a primary candidate, would have to be split between the primary and the general election.
One could make the argument that donating to a party rather than a candidate is a different matter, and donations to parties could be in addition to donations to candidates. The limitations listed above, however, need to still apply. Corporations and PACs must be kept from undue influence over parties as well as candidates.
More important than any other reforms, passing laws or an amendment restricting corporate campaign contributions and lobbying contributions to zero is essential. The effort that must go into maintaining records and oversight of contributions will be significant, but the excesses currently active in our electoral process make this kind of effort necessary.
Continued in Part 7 — Lying & Ethics
Other options:
Return to Part 1 — Prologue
Return to Part 2 — Voting & Election Issues
Return to Part 3 — Gerrymandering & Courts
Return to Part 4 — Congress
Return to Part 5 — President and DOJ
Go to Part 8 — Sexism and LGBT
Go to Part 9 — Abortion & Church/State
Go to Part 10 — Guns
Go to Part 11 — Healthcare & VA
Go to Part 12 — Big Pharma
Go to Part 13 — Environment
Go to Part 14 — Energy
Go to Part 15 — Education
Go to Part 16 — Economics
Go to Part 17 — Unions, Safety Net
Go to Part 18 — Homelessness
Go to Part 19 — Trade, Tariffs
Go to Part 20 — Media
Go to Part 21 — War, National Security
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Above is the sixth of numerous submissions wherein I suggest ways our country, our government, and the world can be made better. I am an old fart in my 70’s and have seen much: the turmoil of the 1960’s; Vietnam (where I served as an infantry officer and was awarded a purple heart and other medals); the anti-Vietnam protests (in which I participated while still in uniform); Watergate, the rise of the right wing attack on the poor and powerless during and after the Reagan years; the continued wars in Grenada, Panama, Iraq, Afghanistan and pretty much everywhere else; the Clinton years, the invasion of Iraq in 2002 and the never-ending war since, the brief glow of sunshine during the Obama years, and now Trump. While my dog in this fight is getting long in the tooth, I still deeply care about three things: my country, my country’s honor, and the future we leave to our descendants. My personal history, other than military service, includes college teaching, computer support, hospital IT supervision, consulting, and now — in my retirement — substitute teaching.
I make my recommendations in all seriousness, recognizing that most of them are not immediately attainable. Nevertheless, if we elect people who share our values as our representatives at all levels of government, we can accomplish much.