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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsA new campaign finance idea - I like it.
Rep. John Sarbanes (not *that* Sarbanes - that's his father), D-Maryland.
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/magazine/junejulyaugust_2015/ten_miles_square/the_monthly_interview_john_sar055931.php?page=all
I wasn't able to get all the details into four paragraphs, although I tried my best - please, go read the whole thing!
Among other things, he tells the story (not excerpted here) of how he tried something similar on his own hook two cycles ago, and how that worked out.
orpupilofnature57
(15,472 posts)madokie
(51,076 posts)right down Bernie's alley.
SusanCalvin
(6,592 posts)I think this is an interesting idea. Maybe I posted it at a bad time....?
truedelphi
(32,324 posts)I wish your OP was getting much more exposure.
SusanCalvin
(6,592 posts)flying rabbit
(4,634 posts)muktiman
(19 posts)When we talk about election reform and publicly funded elections, I have an idea that has been echoing around in my head for a few years now, so let me just post it hear and see the response it might get.
First a question: With all the money collected for elections, where does most of it go?
Answer: To media buys, right? Mostly for TeeVee Ads, newspaper, magazine and now internet ads too.
So, most of the ridicules amount of money goes to whom? Why to the oligarchs, who else.
My proposal is this: lets us have free media for all serious candidates for say a period of 3 or 4 months before any election; free TeeVee spots, free newspaper and magazine and internet ads.
And for that matter, why not also include travel for the candidate and say, 2 or 3 staff members for the same election period.
Most of us here are aware of the oligarchs hold on democracy, and now they will have the opportunity to do their patriotic duty and support the people, the people from whom their obscene wealth is extracted.
What would Bernie say?
I leave it to others to focus on the application. Maybe the political ads would not have to be just 30 second smears or double talk. Maybe a candidate could take the time to explain their nuanced positions on the critical issues of our day. I believe my idea would make the obscene contributions from the 1% irrelevant. AND IT WON'T COST THE GOVERNMENT ANYTHING!
Just an idea, but I dont think you will hear about this on the nightly news any time soon.
muktiman
(19 posts)Who owns the airwaves? Who leases the airwaves from we the people?
And who regulates interstate commerce?
just saying.
SusanCalvin
(6,592 posts)You might consider making this an OP.
muktiman
(19 posts)Hi SusanCalvin. thanks for the encouragement, my question is: what is an OP? and how do i make one?
Sounds like maybe an "Opinion Piece".
i was not allowed to post a separate thread b/c i have not posted much here before, more lurking and reading others posts. But this issue just gets me so worked up, trying to find more ways to pay more money to the oligarchs with tax breaks and such, it just doesn't make sense to me. The airwaves belong to us! We practically give them over to the wealthy for basically a song, and then they get to make so much money off our election process. Advertising costs go during an election b/c of supply and demand.
It reminds me of student loans and grants which bid up the price of an education, but that's another story. Here we bid up the price of advertising during an election cycle just to give the ones with already too much money, more; just because they run the media. Propaganda press: it makes me sick.
please enlighten how we can get this out.
i think it is pretty simple and I'm pretty sure the media wouldn't report on it.
Your advice.
muktiman
SusanCalvin
(6,592 posts)I don't remember exactly, but I think you can do that after 10 replies. The system will tell you.
It's really hard to get attention to election reform here, at least at this time.
The ER forum used to be quite active, with a lengthy daily news thread (I'll find a link to one), but that died off many years ago.
SusanCalvin
(6,592 posts)SaveTheMackerel
(37 posts)If TV is free, 100's more people will apply. Who chooses who gets to use it?
As for tax payer funded campaigns:
The big players will find a way to win that game too. Candidates first must qualify for the public funds. The big players will hire signature collectors to go get them to the top of the list to get the funds.
We can also limit all donation sizes to $1000. That would be good, but not enforceable.
A problem with limiting contribution sizes is the contributers can't stay anonymous. If your employer is of the other party, you will think twice before contributing.
SusanCalvin
(6,592 posts)I haven't reread my original post, but thanks for being interested. I see from your profile that you don't trust electronic voting either.