Posted on 10/30/2014 12:24:04 PM PDT by Baynative
I know many of you are as fed up as I am with the trend of politics and the control exerted over our elections by the media. I am taking it on myself an hoping for your almost effortless support.
My simple plan has risen from watching how liberals have been able to control the media and the national debate with unimportant issues that concern a relatively small number of people; such as gay marriage and minimum wage.
I have a simple two piece plan that I am trying to spread through every campaign and every elected representative. The first thing you should know is that I have personally gotten through to some national representatives elected as Republicans and they did not care for the ideas. So, I am starting here at the grass roots to hear what people think and gather ideas on how to move forward.
1. District only fundraising - I believe that one of the simplest ways to start moving toward fair elections is to implement a law restricting the money a candidate can raise to the jurisdiction they would represent. The President/VP ticket would be able to raise money nation wide. But, senators would be restricted to their state and representatives to their district.
I think this would force politicians to get out and meet people and prove who they are. It would (maybe) end the practice of a candidate from an otherwise obscure swing district from holding fundraisers in Hollywood in pursuit of party control. It would not prevent celebs like Clinton coming to their district, but would maybe influence their reporting of in kind contributions.
I posed this question to Rep. Michele Bachmann during a Heritage Foundation appearance and she didn't think much of the idea.
2. Illegal Voting and Amnesty (This is an extension of the first) Recognizing that Amnesty is an issue that we will be dealing with soon, I want to find a team of people in congress who will work to add an element into any plan for citizenship that would include back ground checks linking to voter registration. Anyone applying for citizenship who has not only entered illegally but voted illegally to contribute to unlawful election tampering should be ruled ineligible for citizenship.
I brought this idea to the attention of Ted Cruz's office, Marco Rubio's office and John McCain's office during the last election. Cruz and Rubio did not follow up. A McCain staffer said it was an abrasive (maybe racist) idea.
Illegal Votes
Am I nuts? Should we just continue on to minority status and be labeled as wing nuts?
Non offensive action?
Restrictions on people wishing to support the candidates/causes of their choice would be a violation of the first amendment.
Want to make a difference?
There’s a group doing.. Virginia Voters’ Alliance? they look at jury summons dismissals due to non-citizenship and then see if that person who is on the voter roll - that’s where summons come from - voted. That’s a felony.
Deportation-worth felony. We could all do the same thing in our counties, find the jury dismissals, find them on the voter rolls and go see what kind of Escalades they have in the driveways.
If each conservative takes out 5 illegals per year, gets them deported, problem mostly solved.
26 posted on 10/30/2014, 9:14:34 AM by txhurl (2014: Stunned Voters do Stunning Things!)
As to #2 - VOTING IN MARYLAND
Well my friend, these are some terrific ideas that have a less-than-zero-percent chance at even seeing light of day.
I am sympathetic but your idea 1. is obviously unconstitutional.
As for the second, there should be no thought of any amnesty for illegals. No reward for illegal entry. Those illegals who vote illegally should not just be barred from future citizenship, they should be prosecuted criminally, then deported. Those who have been convicted of any crime more serious than a traffic ticket should be barred from entry.
Item 1 is a violation of free speech.
I would like to see a system where the candidate receives donations, but doesn’t know the source. From the donor’s point of view, this is not a violation of free speech. The right to free speech doesn’t mean that someone has to listen.
If a candidate doesn’t know who gave them money, they won’t show favoratism. OTOH, donors will only donate to improve the election chances of a candidate, not to receive favors.
Item 2 - Illegal aliens should be deported. Illegal aliens who vote should be jailed.
I agree; it would be a 1st Amendment violation, as held in Citizens’ United v. Federal Election Commission.
As a practical matter, it would be impossible to enforce, as well.
Elections are next to meaningless unless the entrenched bureaucracy is stood down.
Most everyone knows what that means.
Very few are up to that...
{Anyone applying for citizenship who has not only entered illegally but voted illegally to contribute to unlawful election tampering should be ruled ineligible for citizenship.}
I’m sure we all agree with this but it never happens. Illegals get to break the law multiple times and still get rewarded.
I applaud your efforts to do something Bay!
Good ideas.
Not in my lifetime...
Generally it’s liberals who want to control and restrict ‘for our own good’... Also the only ‘amnesty’ legislation I’m interested in is securing our borders and sending illegals home. Period.
And to your two excellent suggestions I would add a third - which is that anyone found guilty of voter fraud receive hard time at a federal prison.
Your campaign finance idea would screw over candidates with a rural voter base, and be a huge advantage for those with urban voters.
It doesn’t take much pondering to figure out which party gets screwed.
My thinking is that if a gang of members in congress demanded checking voter roles and charging felonies, the amnesty talk would maybe stop in a hurry.
That means rich people have a bigger vote than the rest of us.
Why should Soros have more power to elect my representative (not his) than I do?
Immigration-
One option would be for a Republican President to announce an Executive Order to grant citizenship to the people who have been waiting in lines for years to LEGALLY become citizens. Amnesty NOW!
Without a stable of conservatives to bring up into state and national politics, we're doomed.
Federal courts have ruled that such restrictions on political donations are unconstitutional in that they infringe freedom of speech. Adding illegal voting and donations to citizenship background checks makes some sense, but it is hard to see where it would make a major difference. The core problem is illegal immigration, not that some illegal immigrants vote.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.