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Readers React: Blunt big money’s impact by augmenting smaller donations

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To the editor: Businessman Bill Bloomfield’s spending on behalf of a candidate for a Westside state Senate seat is a compelling reason why campaign finance reform is urgently needed in California and across the country. (“A mighty big spender illustrates campaign finance problems,” Op-Ed, Oct. 26)

Bloomfield himself correctly points out that wealthy donors will continue to use loopholes in the current laws to give massive amounts of money to candidates they feel benefit their interests, effectively drowning out the voices of thousands of individual donors. A constitutional amendment would fully address this problem, but other, more immediate reforms can also be effective.

Los Angeles and San Francisco have enacted successful public matching programs aimed at encouraging ordinary citizens to donate to candidates they trust to lead and empower their communities. California should adopt similar rules to encourage politicians to listen to their constituents rather than relying on out-of-state dollars.

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In a democracy, the size of one’s wallet does not translate to the volume of one’s voice.

Anthony Nachor, Novato, Calif.

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To the editor: “Big money” spending is commonly associated with “self-interest.”

I have met Bloomfield and I do not believe his political campaign spending is motivated by self-interest. Instead of buying a yacht or a private jet, Bloomfield spends his money to help finance political campaigns in which he believes the candidates can effectuate positive change to benefit the many.

Of course, Bloomfield’s altruism is not found among all big spenders in political campaigns. For example, what about public employee unions like the California Teachers Assn.? Public unions regularly spend millions on political campaigns motivated solely by self-interest.

Yes, it takes lots of money to build a successful campaign — in the same way that it takes lots of money to build a bridge across a canyon, or from where we are to where we should be.

Bruce Levin, Los Angeles

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion

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