A law needs to be passed that makes them turn over any money left after an election to the IRS.
That way when they ran the nest time any money they used would have to be collected anew, just like their opponent has to do.
These people build their huge war chests and a new opponent faces a candidate with free franking privileges, millions to fight them with and the opponent has to start from scratch.
Its bad enough that the incumbent has lobbyists buying his vote with campaign contributions without having millions in the bank to fight an opponent.
Venturer
Good idea. I think there are many sound ideas that can be fleshed out. We just need some guidance as to how to go about it. Electing our ‘representatives’ to go to Washington rather than remain at their homes where the poeple elected them live might also be a sound idea. When they move into the Washington area they suddenly seem to lose touch with what the people at home that elected them.
When serving in D.C. as needed they should have living quarters. but living there most of the time? With the internet and telephone much business could be conducted within their home districts.
I read once that one of the Scandinavian nations has a president who is elected to serve 6 months. The President lives in a government furnished apartment and must use public transportation to the office each day. A bit of a security problem? How ‘bout Pelosi traveling to Kalifornia frequently in a military aircraft?
I doubt if our nation’s founders would recognize much of what they set up today.