There are non-trivial First Amendment problems with this proposal, not the
least of which is defining what an interest group is. Should someone who
takes support from, say Progressive Minnesota, be banned from voting on the
whole range of public issues that PM has taken a position on? David
Wendy,
It is very clear the influence of money has been one of the fundamental
problems with our political system. Money has weakened our democracy, and some
would rightfully argue replaced the people. We all know money has the ability
to corrupt, but how do policticians, parities and
Wendy is right. Money should not be speech; we should have person-speak,
not money-speak or money-quack. Big money undermines and then kills
democracy.
Alas, the ACLU is on the side of money=speech, perhaps their worst
position ever.
-David Shove
Roseville
On Tue, 6 Dec 2005, Wendy Wilde
Robert Jenson wrote an excellent article entitled How Big Money Eviscerates
the First Amendment. It is available online here:
http://www.counterpunch.org/jensen12052005.html
Democracy and is about empowering we the people while corrupt crony
capitalism is about the concentration of money and
I agree with the folks who have called for public financing of campaigns.
One of the worst things that one has to do as a candidate is fund raise. If
you want to get your message out, you need to have vehicles to do that,
whether it is campaign literature, ads, t-shirts, parade spots, buttons,
Voluntary recusal would be a great start. David Brauer Kingfield
Mandatory recusal. You take money from an interest group to fun for office,
you cannot vote on projects for them. Make it law. And cannot take a job
from them for 10 years after leaving office.
Wendy Pareene
So. Mpls
There are non-trivial First Amendment problems with this proposal,
not the least of which is defining what an interest group is. Should
someone who takes support from, say Progressive Minnesota, be banned
from voting on the whole range of public issues that PM has taken a
position on?
