One idea I have always liked – which has a snowball’s chance – is to completely get rid of corporate- and union cash, pacs, party-, caucus committees, etc. and establish a “no dollar vote without a ballot vote” principle. Any individual can give in any amount to any candidate or issue organization, so long as that individual (contributor) is a qualified elector. Immediate internet disclosure too. Seems to me the simpler, the better – what could be more simple?

But this kind of thing is far easier to trace and track and see when we’re talking about a for-profit entity that does take millions from its profits and gives it to politicians to get more gov’t work/money and then complains about not getting enough money.

Then again – this ENTIRE issue about groups of any kind giving money of any number to politicians in order to be seen and heard is, in itself, a real perversion of democracy – we call it free speech or a way of participating in political speech, but that’s really just a convenient excuse.

I do not know what the answer is – I have always been interested in public financing – but it’s also chicken and egg: who said what first: I’ll only hear you if you give me money? OR If I give you money, will you hear me?

Again – I’ve not studied this – I don’t know. But in general, I would like to believe that the fact that we 1) have a vote and 2) are supposed to be represented by these folks regardless of whether we voted for them or not and regardless of how much money we have is enough to make politicians do the right thing.

Obviously I also think I like in la la land.

Thanks for commenting.

You make an excellent point. Advocacy groups that spend gobs of money on lobbying are in no position to the objective observer to whine about government funding or perceived lack thereof.

That said, I note that public employee unions – including teachers’ unions – are among the most ubiquitous of special interest groups in Washington and state capitals across the country. No?