My new standard for candidates for federal office is

[Toucano]

"Do you support publicly financed elections?"

It is the only way we will ever free ourselves of the corporate lock on our government.

[dflprincess]

1. I like it

and I intend to continue to ask them is the support Medicare for All... anyone who tells me reform has been passed gets crossed off my list.

We can't let them think the health care fight is over.

[Go2Peace]

17. The *only* way to really get representative government, agreed

I would also add we should make corporate lobbying illegal. Every individual should have the right to lobby their government, includng heads of corporations and Billionares. But no-one should be able to hire people to get more reprentation.

We have been suckered to think this idea is unconstitutional. Funny thing though, we all only get one vote. If we can limit voting, which is also a type of speech, then we can do the same thing with lobbying. We HAVE to. We will never have representative government otherwise.

[Toucano]

20. But lobbyists only have influence because they make campaign contributions.

If campaigns were financed by the general fund, it would seem lobbyists would naturally be neutered.

Maybe I'm wrong.

[Go2Peace]

21. I think you have to do both. Why should a company be able to hire people to hound representatives

day and night? Human nature as it is they will listen more often to those that knock on their door and those that they hang with every day, which will be the lobbiests who have nothing else they have to do but lay down the red carpet and schmoooze with power.

[Toucano]

22. I see your point. n/t

[RKP5637]

26. True, we need to get bribery out of government!!! n/t

[rurallib]

2. How many can you currently support?

My local rep supports public financing, but I can't say he is working for it.
That may be the only cow more sacred than supporting the health insurance cartel.

[Skink]

3. Only a President could garner support for public financing.

It would have to start on the federal level.

[Toucano]

7. Obama said during the campaign that raising money was the part he disliked the most.

I've heard Sec. Clinton say the same thing.

Yet Obama opted out of the public financing program for presidential candidates.

If people hate it so much, they should be motivated to change it.

[RKP5637]

27. They all talk well for votes, but in reality none want to cut off the hand the feeds them! n/t

[bobbolink]

10. Thom Hartmann has talked about it working in Portland.

From what he says, it sounds like it works very well there, and maybe that is how it will have to start.

[Toucano]

12. Maybe it won't be a litmus test, but I think we need to start raising the issue.

The amount of money spent on elections is truly an obscenity even if you don't pay attention to where the money comes from.

[Taitertots]

4. I want them to put all their assets in a blind trust and take an oath of poverty

When they leave office they can have their assets back. While in office they are being cared for and they are free from the obvious conflict of interest from having rich people control fiscal policy. How can people with a vested interest in medical corporations make objective decisions?


I'd also like to see "lobbying" called what it really is, Bribery.

[Go2Peace]

18. Yes, lobbying is legalized bribery

[RKP5637]

28. The model we use now is insane. It's illogical, broken and completely does not work. The

conflicts of interest are horrendous!

[tblue]

5. Bill Moyers says that's the #1 problem with American government.

He's absolutely right. I could be flexible on some policies, but not this one. It would change everything if we got big money out of politics.

Was watching Godfather II today and the entire organized crime thing reminded me of the industrial-gov't complex.

[Toucano]

24. Right.

How is an insurance company NOT like a protection racket when they have an interest in denying claims?

[Slip]

6. I found this site looking for info about lobbyists

I too am tired of the corporate stronghold on our gov. Today I started a petition you might appreciate.
http://healthcare.change.org/actions/view/lobby_congress_how_much_would_it_cost_we_the_people_to_outbid_the_special_interests
If you like it sign it and pass it on. :)

[aSpeckofDust]

8. I see a flaw in the petition.

It is petitioning the very people being bankrolled by big business. In their self interest they will just ignore it.

[RKP5637]

29. That's what I think too... it will just get deleted/dumped as nonsense by them...

the way the system is rigged they have way too much at stake to listen to this... It would be nice to get a group like MoveOn.org behind something like this with national advertising, etc. Cleaning up this outrageous lobbyist and bribery mess would probably help this country the most. When I send letters to congress I just get ones back basically telling me why my ideas are stupid and they are ever so correct. Basically, I get a letter of BS CYA back. A dog bone thrown at me.

[Toucano]

9. Beautiful.

Done and DONE!

[Canuckistanian]

11. There you go

The root of the problem exactly.

:thumbsup:

[RKP5637]

13. Lobbyists and the exorbitant money spent on elections are destroying

this country! Never has it been clearer. And the media has a big stake in it too, what a gravy train for the media. Frankly, the entire election process sucks! More and more this is becoming a fascist country! Our government is mostly bought and owned by corporate interests.

[Toucano]

14. The banking and Wall Street bailouts, and now this!

You're right. It has never been clearer.

They're not even embarrassed by it anymore.

It is done openly and with impunity.

[waiting for hope]

15. Everything begins with the money trail ...

take it away, and perhaps they may start looking at their constituents.

[FatDave]

16. It does seem to be the crux of most of our problems.

Go figure.

[The Straight Story]

19. Make it like health care, Social Security, etc

We all chip in some and pass out the money on an equal basis to each candidate.

[liberal_at_heart]

23. I completely agree

[struggle4progress]

25. My standard is "Are you better than the other guy?" Then I don't want the other guy in office

[newtothegame]

30. Mine has and will always be, "Will this candidate make history of some sort?" Racially, gender, etc.

[ZombieHorde]

31. If your plan does not work, you should make your new standard be $50.

If you can't beat 'em, get $50.