Why We Need Campaign Finance Reform

Donating money to some campaign is the equivalent of exercising our right to free speech, isn't it? Not so much. Freedom of speech, classically, is wedded to the notion of the "marketplace of ideas". Freedom of speech is necessary to allow varying viewpoints to "compete" with one another so that one of them can "win". Ok, so it doesn't work as tidily as that in the real world, but that is the premise.

Does money do anything to improve the "quality" of the speech? Do those candidates and causes that can raise the most money have the best message? Clearly not. More likely, they simply have a better chance of winning a given election. Money does not impact the quality of the ideas being offered. It simply increases the VOLUME at which they are offered. In effect, we tend to vote for that which is the loudest, not that which has the most merit. Freedome of speech has nothing to do with volume.

Now that we have gotten around that issue (now all that we need is a Constitutional amendment!), let's take a serious look at campaign financing. I recall an election in Missouri where one side was complaining because one of the main financial backers of a specific issue was based in New York state. Why in the world should anyone, or anything, in New York get to donate money to impact an election in Missouri? Why do PACs set up to support Party Member X get to donate money to support Party Member Y? Money is so vital to our election system. It isn't necessarily outcome-determinative, but it is getting close. We end up with leaders who are skilled at raising money. The problem is that that skill doesn't have so much to do with governing. Another problem is that the winners are beholden to the backers who got them there. Anyone who claims that there isn't an expected quid pro quo for financial support is either lying or is frankly too stupid to vote.

Elections, at least on the national level, should be entirely funded by the government. Let people volunteer if they want. But all of the advertising, travel, staff expenses, etc. should be on a budget that everyone shares. Certainly, logistics would have to be worked out so that the Save the Red Coyote Party doesn't get the same dollars that major parties do, but that shouldn't be too hard. This approach would focus the campiagns on issues and ideas, and not on fund-raising.

We will never get it. Those with the power to make such changes are themselves indebted to the current system.