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The best and only constitutional solution is to publicly fund all federal elections. 2 billion a year could fully fund all congressional elections. You don't ev

The best and only constitutional solution is to publicly fund all federal elections. 2 billion a year could fully fund all congressional elections. You don't even need to fund the presidential election because the two parties raise more than enough money themselves. They are already buying literally all the commercial time on TV in swing states. More money doesn't provide much marginal benefit at that stage. That wouldn't prevent companies from funding PACs, but it would greatly reduce their influence. I'm not overly familiar with Lessig, but I believe he proposed the public funding option on a RealTime with Bill Mayer. I'd also increase individual donation limits. Upper Middle Class people throwing 20k to a campaign for shits and giggles doesn't carry the same sort of risk as Boeing giving 500k and then asking for a defense contract.

studentrob 11y ago
Okay, I've heard that, but then how do we decide who gets to run? Wouldn't the wealthiest still end up with the best initial campaigns? [side-rant] This makes me think that being able to include more candidates, by way of reforming FPTP and using an alternative vote, could be as important as campaign finance reform. I am over this two party system that controls everything. They're corrupting our democracy by gerrymandering and barring candidates from debates. And since they control the rules about how primaries work, and we really only have these two parties as a result of FPTP, we effectively do not have the democracy our founders tried to promise. The rules that protect democracy at the national level are not operating at the primary level. [/side-rant]
- gabrielgrant 11y ago
  You're absolutely right. That's why Lessig's proposed Citizen Equality Act has multi-member districts with ranked choice voting (effectively ending gerrymandering) as the second major component: https://lessig2016.us/the-plan/ https://lessig2016.us/the-plan/
  - studentrob 11y ago
    That sounds great. Is he friends with someone who holds office and can make it happen? Say, Warren? However it goes, I hope we continue to raise awareness and rally support for these reforms. That simple image that shows how gerrymandering works is a real eye opener, for example. And all politicians are guilty for being complicit in that behavior, unless I'm misinformed and there's some legitimate reason for redrawing district lines.

studentrob 11y ago

Okay, I've heard that, but then how do we decide who gets to run? Wouldn't the wealthiest still end up with the best initial campaigns? [side-rant] This makes me think that being able to include more candidates, by way of reforming FPTP and using an alternative vote, could be as important as campaign finance reform. I am over this two party system that controls everything. They're corrupting our democracy by gerrymandering and barring candidates from debates. And since they control the rules about how primaries work, and we really only have these two parties as a result of FPTP, we effectively do not have the democracy our founders tried to promise. The rules that protect democracy at the national level are not operating at the primary level. [/side-rant]

gabrielgrant 11y ago
You're absolutely right. That's why Lessig's proposed Citizen Equality Act has multi-member districts with ranked choice voting (effectively ending gerrymandering) as the second major component: https://lessig2016.us/the-plan/ https://lessig2016.us/the-plan/
- studentrob 11y ago
  That sounds great. Is he friends with someone who holds office and can make it happen? Say, Warren? However it goes, I hope we continue to raise awareness and rally support for these reforms. That simple image that shows how gerrymandering works is a real eye opener, for example. And all politicians are guilty for being complicit in that behavior, unless I'm misinformed and there's some legitimate reason for redrawing district lines.