Corruption and Campaign Finance Reform
Numerous talks I’ve had with friends over the last week or so have come back to one central point, which in turn boils down to one central word: corruption. Our government leaders are not in a position to make good, honest choices that will serve their constituents, due to the enormous power exerted on them by the corporate entities that enabled them to get into office in the first place and the force of lobbyists in leaders’ day-to-day decision making. Unless we force dramatic campaign finance reform, we’re really wasting our breath in asking government to bring us the things virtually all of us want: universal healthcare, a clean energy policy, honesty in lending, acting decently outside our borders, etc. And, obviously, this can only come from a loud public outcry; do not expect the fox that guards the henhouse to reform itself.
Although there are several reasonable scenarios for fair campaign financing, I suggest this: all campaign money, raised from whatever sources, is divided equally among all candidates who can raise the required number of signatures to get on the ballot, and media are required to devote equal airtime to all candidates.
