Quote:"A newcomer can be known by their ideas and actions." And how do those ideas and action become known? It takes money.

 

Your last paragraph made me all warm inside - but if you want to win an election it takes money. What are you so afraid of? Are you saying you can be bought and you need to be protected from yourself? Are you saying that you don't mind paying taxes and having that money go to candidates you don't believe in? So every politician is bought? Including the ones you vote for? How do you account for the "free money" incumbents now get (i.e., free air time by doing something "official")? 

 

What is it exactly that this money is buying anyway?

Debates, interviews, blog posts, twitter. There many ways to get your message out there should you so desire. You cannot really account for the free air time they get. It's not something you can really do. However, since fundraising isn't a priority anymore the incumbents would be more likely to represent the people that voted for them since they can't just outspend to sway voters their way. If they are failing in office in their voters eyes then the new guy/lady looks a lot better come election time.

 

It takes money because right now it takes money. Just accepting that is bunk to me. The system is corrupt. The vast majority of politicians are bought. It gets weak regulations and other laws tailored made to the desire of special interests. Political moves are made with campaigning in mind. Speaking of, if elections were publicly funded, fundraising would not be necessary allowing more time for actual work. 

 

What am I afraid of? The apathy towards the corrupt campaign finance system in this country and the continuation of a broken system that leads to a large percentage of politicians not actually representing their constituents but rather the people/groups/companies that grease their palms. 

 

I am absolutely ok with my tax dollars going to a publicly funded campaign system and I could care less if it goes to politicians I do not agree with or support. It doesn't have to be purely publicly funded you could put a limit on donations as well. Say a single person can only give $100 bucks a year to a candidate or something of the like. 

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