Comments on: If politicians can be bought, the public must do the buying http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/11/24/if-politicians-can-be-bought-the-public-must-do-the-buying/ Think - it ain't illegal yet... Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:00:02 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Scholars and Rogues » Game over? Billionaire elites now blatantly rule American politics http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/11/24/if-politicians-can-be-bought-the-public-must-do-the-buying/comment-page-1/#comment-74886 Scholars and Rogues » Game over? Billionaire elites now blatantly rule American politics Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:56:48 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/11/24/if-politicians-can-be-bought-the-public-must-do-the-buying/#comment-74886 [...] have argued (here and here) for a radical overhaul of campaign financing. I have said that Congress should [...] [...] have argued (here and here) for a radical overhaul of campaign financing. I have said that Congress should [...]

]]> By: Scholars and Rogues » It’s not Congress. It’s legalized corruption. Time to end it. http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/11/24/if-politicians-can-be-bought-the-public-must-do-the-buying/comment-page-1/#comment-74328 Scholars and Rogues » It’s not Congress. It’s legalized corruption. Time to end it. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:00:35 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/11/24/if-politicians-can-be-bought-the-public-must-do-the-buying/#comment-74328 [...] If our politicians continue to insist on being bought, let the public do the buying. [...] [...] If our politicians continue to insist on being bought, let the public do the buying. [...]

]]> By: Scholars and Rogues » Future of money in politics? Hell, more money! http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/11/24/if-politicians-can-be-bought-the-public-must-do-the-buying/comment-page-1/#comment-62630 Scholars and Rogues » Future of money in politics? Hell, more money! Sat, 14 Feb 2009 22:16:44 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/11/24/if-politicians-can-be-bought-the-public-must-do-the-buying/#comment-62630 [...] because the paltry public funding raised through the IRS check-off represented so little money, Congress should add $10 billion a year to the federal budget to pay for every single election in the United States. The public, I argued, must outbid the [...] [...] because the paltry public funding raised through the IRS check-off represented so little money, Congress should add $10 billion a year to the federal budget to pay for every single election in the United States. The public, I argued, must outbid the [...]

]]> By: Scholars and Rogues » Blog Archive » A 34-day whirlwind http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/11/24/if-politicians-can-be-bought-the-public-must-do-the-buying/comment-page-1/#comment-11077 Scholars and Rogues » Blog Archive » A 34-day whirlwind Thu, 03 Jan 2008 20:03:50 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/11/24/if-politicians-can-be-bought-the-public-must-do-the-buying/#comment-11077 [...] In the next 34 days, candidates without a major war chest will find that they cannot compete in even a small number of the states required to win 50% or more of the delegates, and they’ll be forced to withdraw. This will again illustrate, in pointed manner, both the corrosive influence of money on our national political process and the utter failure of the public election financing system. [...] [...] In the next 34 days, candidates without a major war chest will find that they cannot compete in even a small number of the states required to win 50% or more of the delegates, and they’ll be forced to withdraw. This will again illustrate, in pointed manner, both the corrosive influence of money on our national political process and the utter failure of the public election financing system. [...]

]]> By: Savantster http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/11/24/if-politicians-can-be-bought-the-public-must-do-the-buying/comment-page-1/#comment-8805 Savantster Sun, 25 Nov 2007 19:03:02 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/11/24/if-politicians-can-be-bought-the-public-must-do-the-buying/#comment-8805 "We’ve got to find a way to remove politicians from that fundraising frenzy. We have to outbid the corpo-kleptocrats" ... And this is part of what I have a problem with, the apparent "competition" that doesn't really need to be there. The first 2 posts cover most of it fairly well, I think.. But let's also consider this. Reagan took out the Fairness Doctrine.. and now shows like FOX NEWS are out there, allowed to LIE to the public by court approvals. There are 2 major issues that brings up.. First, our "public airwaves" aren't being -reasonably- utilized. We're letting the corps have access to things that belong to us, but we can't compete with? Secondly, allowing a lie in political speech and calling it "free speech", while still having "libel" and "slander" on the books seems.. well, to be blunt, insane. Clearly "lying" to the public to sway public opinion about matters that directly concern the public can't be in the publics best interest, can it? At least, not if we want any semblance of a real Democracy in the U.S. Companies profit by using our airwaves, it's time to force them back to supporting the Democracy that feeds them. Equal time to ALL candidates, no more "lying in political ads" (and those lawsuits get prosecuted for free by the courts so small independents can defend themselves against the mega-corp liars and manipulators), no more letting them get RICH off of the electoral system (you do realize that political advertising is something like the 3rd most lucrative income stream for media, right?). Time for the big media using our airwaves to help, not hinder. I think -that- is something most candidates could get behind.. Well, Democrats and Independants, anyway.. ;) “We’ve got to find a way to remove politicians from that fundraising frenzy. We have to outbid the corpo-kleptocrats” … And this is part of what I have a problem with, the apparent “competition” that doesn’t really need to be there.

The first 2 posts cover most of it fairly well, I think.. But let’s also consider this. Reagan took out the Fairness Doctrine.. and now shows like FOX NEWS are out there, allowed to LIE to the public by court approvals. There are 2 major issues that brings up.. First, our “public airwaves” aren’t being -reasonably- utilized. We’re letting the corps have access to things that belong to us, but we can’t compete with? Secondly, allowing a lie in political speech and calling it “free speech”, while still having “libel” and “slander” on the books seems.. well, to be blunt, insane. Clearly “lying” to the public to sway public opinion about matters that directly concern the public can’t be in the publics best interest, can it? At least, not if we want any semblance of a real Democracy in the U.S.

Companies profit by using our airwaves, it’s time to force them back to supporting the Democracy that feeds them. Equal time to ALL candidates, no more “lying in political ads” (and those lawsuits get prosecuted for free by the courts so small independents can defend themselves against the mega-corp liars and manipulators), no more letting them get RICH off of the electoral system (you do realize that political advertising is something like the 3rd most lucrative income stream for media, right?). Time for the big media using our airwaves to help, not hinder. I think -that- is something most candidates could get behind.. Well, Democrats and Independants, anyway.. ;)

]]> By: The Indy Voice http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/11/24/if-politicians-can-be-bought-the-public-must-do-the-buying/comment-page-1/#comment-8747 The Indy Voice Sun, 25 Nov 2007 00:52:31 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/11/24/if-politicians-can-be-bought-the-public-must-do-the-buying/#comment-8747 "Clean Money, Clean Elections:" http://www.theindyvoice.com/2006/11/28/clean-money-clean-elections.html “Clean Money, Clean Elections:” http://www.theindyvoice.com/2006/11/28/clean-money-clean-elections.html

]]> By: JS O'Brien http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/11/24/if-politicians-can-be-bought-the-public-must-do-the-buying/comment-page-1/#comment-8742 JS O'Brien Sun, 25 Nov 2007 00:30:53 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/11/24/if-politicians-can-be-bought-the-public-must-do-the-buying/#comment-8742 Actually, Dr. Slammy, what Denny is proposing just might work without going through the all-but-impossible effort to throw a new amendment on to the Constitution. I would also amend Dr. Denny's proposal, but only to dump more money into the campaign fund. That would make taking private money less useful, and ensure that anyone foregoing public money must have some VERY deep-pocket backers, indeed. Doc Denny's proposal would mean that anyone taking public money could accuse any opponent who takes private money of being on the take, essentially. Accepting private money, when public money is more than adequate, will look awfully fishy to the average voter. This thing might just work out all on its own. And Dr. Denny, THANK YOU for giving me a new way to put this to people. I had been saying, "Pay more now or REALLY pay me later." But I love the idea of outbidding the special interests! Actually, Dr. Slammy, what Denny is proposing just might work without going through the all-but-impossible effort to throw a new amendment on to the Constitution.

I would also amend Dr. Denny’s proposal, but only to dump more money into the campaign fund. That would make taking private money less useful, and ensure that anyone foregoing public money must have some VERY deep-pocket backers, indeed.

Doc Denny’s proposal would mean that anyone taking public money could accuse any opponent who takes private money of being on the take, essentially. Accepting private money, when public money is more than adequate, will look awfully fishy to the average voter. This thing might just work out all on its own.

And Dr. Denny, THANK YOU for giving me a new way to put this to people. I had been saying, “Pay more now or REALLY pay me later.” But I love the idea of outbidding the special interests!

]]> By: Dr. Denny http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/11/24/if-politicians-can-be-bought-the-public-must-do-the-buying/comment-page-1/#comment-8739 Dr. Denny Sun, 25 Nov 2007 00:17:42 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/11/24/if-politicians-can-be-bought-the-public-must-do-the-buying/#comment-8739 I can't go that far — yet. I'd first like to see public financing of such magnitude that it becomes a viable and logical choice over private money. If that fails, I say we all take the money we get from selling our votes, buy an island in the South Pacific, rename it "Scrogueland," and drink ourselves silly. I can’t go that far — yet. I’d first like to see public financing of such magnitude that it becomes a viable and logical choice over private money.

If that fails, I say we all take the money we get from selling our votes, buy an island in the South Pacific, rename it “Scrogueland,” and drink ourselves silly.

]]> By: Dr. Slammy http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/11/24/if-politicians-can-be-bought-the-public-must-do-the-buying/comment-page-1/#comment-8736 Dr. Slammy Sun, 25 Nov 2007 00:10:29 +0000 http://www.scholarsandrogues.com/2007/11/24/if-politicians-can-be-bought-the-public-must-do-the-buying/#comment-8736 And I'd say you're still not going far enough. Pardon my magic wand, but the only way you solve this problem is by banning ALL non-public money from elections. All of it. No corporate donations, no individual donations, and nobody can pay for their campaigns out of their own pockets, either. Running for president? You get $X just like all other qualifying candidates. And that horsewax Supreme Court nonsense about money = speech? Yeah, that has to be explicitly overturned by Congressional action. Our Constitution has served us fairly well, but the more I ponder these sorts of issue the more I'm convinced the old girl needs an overhaul. The only problem there is that there isn't anybody out there I trust to DO the overhauling. So, where did you say I could find those people who'd pay me for my vote? And I’d say you’re still not going far enough. Pardon my magic wand, but the only way you solve this problem is by banning ALL non-public money from elections. All of it. No corporate donations, no individual donations, and nobody can pay for their campaigns out of their own pockets, either. Running for president? You get $X just like all other qualifying candidates.

And that horsewax Supreme Court nonsense about money = speech? Yeah, that has to be explicitly overturned by Congressional action.

Our Constitution has served us fairly well, but the more I ponder these sorts of issue the more I’m convinced the old girl needs an overhaul.

The only problem there is that there isn’t anybody out there I trust to DO the overhauling.

So, where did you say I could find those people who’d pay me for my vote?

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