How 'Bout Some Campaign Finance Reform?

Comic by Mike Luckovich


After watching the Congress open the Treasury to the bankers, insurance companies, car industries and now Big Pharma (Eli Lily, 80% owned by the Bush's) and the Health Insurance companies, under the auspice of Reagan's trickle down theory (the masses will benefit if the multi-national corporations are forgiven their debt, allowed to conglomerate, and break up what's left of the unions), don't you think it's time to accept a few things about our government, and maybe human nature in general?

During the bank bail out, two different congressmen flat out admitted that over half of congress was bought and paid for. Bribery?, you say. Not exactly. Through a series of complex avenues, these multi-national corporations donate massive amounts of money to campaigns. And they make it clear if you are already an incumbent, that if you don't vote the way they want, they will finance several campaigns against you. This has played out right in front of us with the health industry take over of the health care reform movement.

How can we change this? How can we maintain access to our politicians, without compromising the integrity of the office? How about 1 (one) term in office? Remove the revolving door of the election cycle. Once you're in, you're in. Once your time is up, it's up. And no consulting, board placements or any other kind of alternative compensation when you get out of office. This would eliminate so much of the inherent corruption in the system.

As far as campaign finance reform; make it simple. The amount of money, both spent and raised, must be limited. Equal amount of free air time, but definitely limited to a certain amount of time before the election, ie. six months, one year. Also free and equal amount of time in the papers, on the radio, and on the television. Anyone caught breaking the basic rules, the so-called Spirit of the Law, should be barred from holding any public office. Town halls, whistle stop tours, or just plain going door to door is fine (frankly, preferred) because this is how we used to get a feel for the integrity of a person. Not some Madison Avenue-market research-spin doctor-poll tracking version of a candidate.

The way things are, we have the Bush's, the Cuomo's, the Clinton's, the Kennedy's, and the Rockefeller's. And we are going to keep having them there until the laws are changed. This country never wanted a monarchy, or a House of Lords, but believe you me, that is exactly what we have.

The Executive branch has become almost 'all-powerful', what with it's own army that answers neither to the civilian police, nor the military. They answer only to the president. This army use to be called norcom, but I believe is now referred to as JSOC. The People's house is like the little kids' table at a sit down dinner. Every once in a while it might get a little noisy, but that's more nuisance than anything. The Senate has all the power, all the purse strings. And, if the multi-nationals don't want a specific bill read or voted on, surprise surprise, it dies in committee. AND EVERYONE KNOWS THIS IS HAPPENING!?!?!?!

How about we do what we fought so hard to have the right to do? Let's throw these bums out, close the door, and change the rules so that we can learn from our mistakes, our shortcomings, and become a better country, a better example to the rest of the world. I strongly support campaign finance reform and the reintroduction of term-limits, and I believe that it will be business as usual until that has been resolved.