[Jim Robinson]

The Congress shall make no law abridging the right.... etc.

[Jim Robinson]

The solution (as if there could really be one) is to abide by the U.S. Constitution. Drop the unconstitutional campaign finance laws that are already on the books. Prosecute the politicians who are accepting the bribes and handing out the favors, etc.

[NovemberCharlie]

Then the only thing would be groups who run ads and give support in parallel, without any financial transaction. I still prefer attacking it from another direction: limiting government. If politicians have no power to grant favors, it becomes a waste of money to influence politics.

[Common Tator]

Gee aren't you brilliant.

Clinton runs into a fat cat named Rich who is shopping for a pardon. Clinton just needs 8 million dollars for his 1996 campaign. Gimme the 8 mill Bill says to Rich, and at the end of the next term you will get a pardon. Rich says how will you know I gave it? Billy boys says give it and I will figure it out.

Two weeks later the commision calls Clinton and says an unknown doner just gave you 8 million dollars for your campaign. Rest assured Mr Clinton that neighter you or the the American people will never know who this anonimous doner is. Clinton says, "I am willing to pardon the doner for not telling me who he is. I certainly want to follow the law and have zero clues about who is giving me the money."

Clinton hangs up from the commission call just intime to get a call from Rich. Rich says "Did you get 8 million?." Clinton says "I am just going to have to pardon you for what you just did"

I'll bet you are so bright your mother calls you sun.

[Jim Robinson]

Campaign finance reform: Repeal the 17th amendment. All politics are suddenly local. Catch the rat bastards accepting bribes and prosecute them locally.

[sam_paine]

This is nice. You take the time to present a reasoned, creative solution, and nobody on this site responds to your points...just blather on their own.

I think you have an interesting direction. I think there'll be plenty of opportunities for looping holes, tho. Like if a corporation gives money, it would HAVE to disclose it on its own balance sheet or how are stockholders sposed to know where the money's going? Plus if Donor X goes to a $10,000/plate dinner, then you'd have to know they donated $10K, right?

And how does this affect my company running pro-Such-n-So advertisements? Would you inhibit displays of "Sponsored by...." at the end of each commercial?

You're headed in a good direction, but there's some glitches.

[McGavin999]

Got an even easier solution. Elect people who are uncorruptable. What amazes me is that all the people who have voted for the CFR have admitted that they are so weak that they can be tempted to do something that is NOT in the best interest of the country merely because someone contributes to their campaign. With that kind of confession, you would think it would be a pretty easy decision for their constituants to replace them with someone who can be trusted.

[no-s]

If the government didn't have any power, no one would try to influence it. Of course, there wouldn't be any point in having a government, either.

James Hogan (in a novel) proposed a constitutional amendment forbidding the practise of economic favoritism through regulation/legislation. If you could show a law or code favored one actor economically over another, it was moot.

Personally I'm with the people who think we should be on Gov't to "follow the constitution". Most of the means through which the public trust are abused revolve around unconstitutional acts and regulations. Combine that with a "No more new laws without getting rid of some old ones" and it's a winner.

[ijcr]

Two terms are good enough for the President and the Mayor of New York. Why not for Congress? No need to raise big bucks cause they're gone.

[gunshy]

The simple solution is to restore representative government.
1. A senate or representative can only accept contributions from registered voters in their own districts.
2. The is no limit as to how much a contributor can make to a candidate.
3. A candidate must contribute an agreed upon amout or percentage to the sponsoring political party.
4. Anyone may provide advertising or campaign support to the candidate for whom they are registered to vote and all advertising must identiify, in readable type, the person paying for the advertising.
5. No contributions may be given within 48 hours of the election. All contributions must be made public via hardcopy within 24 hours of acceptance.
6. Political party advertising can only promote party philosophy. Party advertising may not identify a candidate by name.

[Waco]

The current round of CFR "reform" was spawned by the demoncraps" "Chinese CFR Reform" of 1996. When the news got out they started calling for "reform". The press cooperated fully, picked up on it and proceeded to lie to the public to help the demoncraps. Remember???

[Lazamataz]

How would it work? Easy. All donations would have to be made anonymously and in cash. Every politician or political cause would have to have a CPA firm set up like a blind trust to receive its donations. Then you’d find out what politician is actually supported by people (and groups, and corporations). And which ones are crooks, stumblebums, and charlatans.

Fascinating.

[Valin]

Let everyone give however much they want to whoever they want. With one proviso(sp) immediate notification(say within 24 hrs).
A large part of the problem is our system was set up for an informed electorate. And sad to say that is not the case today. I would hazard a guess that most voters don't ever know that this bill passed the house last week.

[Eva]

You can't legislate morality. The system is corrupt because politicians are corrupt. Silencing special interests (the voters) is not going to make politicians honest. Honest politics is an oxymoron.