What democratic countries keep money out of politics?

[Pedalpower]

I'm thinking of leaving the USA. Our government is completely corrupted by money, the problem is growing worse, and there is no solution on the horizon.

It's only a matter of time before our collapse, and I do not believe that any disaster is great enough to shake people of their political biases. The Bush crash only strengthened Cons' resolve, for example.

What forward-thinking countries have constitutions that keep the corrupting influence of money relatively separate from politics?

I may be headed there.

[WCGreen]

1. Pretty much every other advanced democracy...

They limit the amount of time you can campaign and limit the amount that is spent.

But then again most of the other Democracies in the world are organized as a Parliament form, which apportions reps via percentage of votes.

Since we have a winner take all form of Democracy, there is a natural tendency to get as big as you can which ultimately ends up with a two party system.

Again, the Capitalism we practice here is a lot different as the governments provide more than regulations and war making abilities which are the two main functions of the US Government.

Of course it is more complex than that, however, it is a good starting place to look at the differences between the US and the rest of the world.

Until we abandon the two party system, in other words reorganize into proportional government, we are stuck with what we got.

[Lucy Goosey]

2. From the Elections Canada website:

As of January 1, 2007, only citizens and permanent residents of Canada can make political donations to registered parties, registered electoral district associations, candidates, nomination contestants and leadership contestants.

Corporations, trade unions and unincorporated associations may no longer make political donations to candidates, registered electoral district associations or nomination contestants of registered parties. The existing prohibition on donations from these organizations to registered parties and leadership contestants of registered parties remains. However, an employer can give an employee who wishes to be a nomination contestant or a candidate a paid leave of absence during an election period, and that leave will not be considered a contribution.

(bolding is mine)

http://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=vot&dir=bkg&document=ec90557&lang=e

Individuals can donate up to $1200 each in 2012, and that amount gets raised every couple of years to keep up with inflation.

Also, Canada had its version of "Citizens United" decided by our Supreme Court in '04 and the decision was the opposite of the US ruling. Quote from the ruling:

"Promoting electoral fairness by ensuring the equality of each citizen in elections, preventing the voices of the wealthy from drowning out those of others, and preserving confidence in the electoral system, are pressing and substantial objectives in a liberal democracy."