Time To Re-Visit The Issue Of Publicly Financed Campaigns.

[Crystal Clarity]

Tomorrow voters in 13 States will be going to the polls. So for me, this seems like as good a time as any to re-introduce the subject of publicly financed campaigns. I say 're-introduce' because though I have not been on DU long, my guess is that this issue MUST have come up before. Or at least I hope so.

However, it has come to my attention that (at last count)only 8 States have taken this route, and even more disappointingly, we have seen NO discernible action on the Federal level.

Given all the frustration I've witnessed here on DU regarding the money-driven incestuous relationships between politicians and corporations, I can't help but wonder why more of us aren't working to address this cancer rather then lament the symptoms of it.

Publicly financed campaigns have worked well in my State for over 10 years, providing a significant societal benefit. It's allowed our politicians to be held accountable only to us, their constituents. But we fall short in one area... we need to see our federally elected Representatives and Senators held to this same standard. And of course, our President.

The only way for that to happen however is for citizens all over this country to DEMAND it. If you live in one of the 42 States without public financing, why not start there? The more States we have on board with this, the less difficult it will be to see some action on the federal level.

This video link features Bill Moyers discussing the subject: http://www.publicampaign.org/video.

Please folks; let's all work for this in whatever way we can.

[liberal_at_heart]

1. You are absolutely right. Both parties are corrupt because both parties take money from corporations

and we need to call both parties out on it.

[NightWatcher]

2. Who's going to vote for it, the politicians who receive the payoffs?

Oh sorry, I see the "we should DEMAND it" clause.
"WE" are not going to DEMAND anything from our government.
"WE" are only able to fight amongst ourselves while continuing to get hosed by the corporate bosses who pull the strings.
"THEY" have successfully divided and conquered us and have left us to be ruled as serfs while we argue about guns, gods, and gays.

What's the last change that "WE" have successfully "DEMANDED"? Serious question, I dont know.

[Crystal Clarity]

3. If 8 States can pass this, yours can too

There is nothing different or *special* about us. Yet we were able to DEMAND and get Clean Elections here. :-)

[Crystal Clarity]

4. I don't see anywhere

in the DU rules that you can't kick your own threads, however I've never done it before because it seems un-cool somehow...pathetic even (perhaps).

Nonetheless, I thought I'd offer it up for the afternoon crowd... or for those who don't realize that that clean elections can go a very long way in addressing the many varied concerns I see expressed over and over again on DU.

Cheers! :-) -CC