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I'm as sad about the demise of campaign finance reform as anyone, but there's something to be said for free association. You can make a case for restricting do
by kgrin 16y ago
I'm as sad about the demise of campaign finance reform as anyone, but there's something to be said for free association. You can make a case for restricting donations and such - but limiting people's right to essentially organize themselves into groups?
- RyanMcGreal 16y agoI'm not sure how it works in the US, but in Ontario, Canada, candidates for municipal office are forbidden to organize themselves into "slates" and must instead run as independents.
- protomyth 16y agoI actually think if we went to full disclosure, donate what you want (Citizen's only please), then the chance for a third party would increase greatly.
- nkurz 16y agoOne can still have freedom of organization without having official recognition of those groups. The tragedy to me is the extent to which we have raised the concept of political party into law. Why are there slots on the ballot reserved for parties? Why are party affiliations even printed on the ballot? Any block of people should have full right to form a political party to espouse their shared views, but I don't see any reason we should do their advertising and organizing for them. I take it as an affront that when I register to vote that I'm asked to declare my allegiance to private social group, just as I would take offense at being asked by the government which of two official religions I belonged to.