"Give Up On Campaign Finance Reform"

"One of the cancers eating away at our government is undue influence garnered through political contributions. In short, how much does it take to buy a good politician today? To say that we don't need campaign reform of any kind because it abridges the constitutional freedom of speech is shortsighted and altogether dumb thinking.

This past June, the Supreme Court handed down its decision in what's called Colorado II. To answer that freedom of speech argument, the Supreme Court reiterated that speech is protected under the First Amendment and regulating campaign contributions would be the same as regulating speech. But it also ruled that speech could be regulated IF the government has a compelling interest for those restrictions; such as preventing real and apparent corruption in politics.

Did you know that somewhere in the astronomical number of $3 BILLION dollars was spent in the 2000 election. Three billion dollars to get people elected to jobs where perks are as good as the paychecks. Here's some other sobering numbers for you to contemplate. The Republicans depended on the people for the power. Almost half, 46% of its overall revenues, that's $216 million dollars, were in small contributions of $200.00 or less. That's America out there from sea to shining sea getting involved. The Democratic Party relied mostly on big donors with big bucks. Only 23% of their total contributions were from small donors. If the liberal media made you believe that corporate America has the Republican Party in their back pockets, you were sucker punched once more. Last election, PAC's, Political Action Committees, doled out money hand over fist, but only to incumbents. Labor PAC's gave more than 90% of its money to Democrats.

Now, here's the reality part of the diatribe. Nothing is going to change in campaign contributions! We've gone so far out of kilter that the changes needed now would be termed "drastic". The only way that would happen is with an overthrow of our government. Whoa! Can't believe I'm saying this? Well, it's reality. Kind of like the man who goes to the fourth doctor and the doctor tells him he has only six months to live. The reason this is the fourth doctor is because the other three said the same thing.

It really, really doesn't matter what legislation John McCain or anybody else introduces. It doesn't matter how many committees and subcommittees study the matter. You've got to deal with this reality; real campaign reform is never , ever going to happen unless we have an overthrow of the government. In short-a revolution. Why? Simple. What would happen if you permitted your teenager to make all the rules pertaining to his curfew? What would you get if the prisoners wrote the rulebook? Well, that's what you have in Washington. These good old boys are making the rules. You're just reading them.

They've got this "switch and bait" move down better than some pigeon drop con artist. When the good old boys write the final bill, they'll hide a clause so deep in the legislation it would take OJ's legal team to find it. Let me give you an example. During the last so-called reform, politicians demanded the lowest rate from the media. That was done under the pretense of helping more people who may want to run in any election. Then "Bait and Switch 1". The incumbents bought up prime time during their well-financed campaigns and flooded the airwaves prior to the election. Politicians pushed though the FCC a rule that stated anyone running for office would qualify for the "lowest rate" regulation IF they would do the commercial themselves. That was done under the guise that the public would be better served hearing and seeing the candidate. "Bait and Switch 2". What you have now is every politician from federal to the local level just "tagging" a spot. You got a professional production with the candidate only doing the quick "paid for" tag. Hey, it's legal. His voice is on there. He doesn't even have to identify himself and he could just clear his throat. It's called creative loopholes.

So you see, no matter what legislation is passed, the fox is writing the hen house rules….and that ain't good. Not for the chickens anyway. No wonder when it's all said and done, we feel like once again we've been plucked."

Paul Gallo

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