Discuss "Patriot dollars"

Limiting political contributions to individuals is a great idea. Eliminate contributions by PAC's unions, etc. Make the process transparent by requiring all contributions to be on the public record immediately. But, don't waste time and energy, not to say violate the 1st amendment of our Constitution, by limiting the amount a private individual can contribute to any campaign.

Bob C @ 3:11 PM PST, Jan 5, 2009

Bingo. Brilliant, simple. Now we, the citizenry, must hold the new President's, and the new Congress's, feet to the fire. Perhaps a soft revolution via the internet wherein we embarrass our government into change? To be clear, I strongly support Obama. PS The arguments in prior messages must be used to fine tune what may be a flawed solution in it's first iteration. We can do this if there is enough will of the people!

ElleN SWALLOW @ 1:05 PM PST, Jan 5, 2009

This is really quite an interesting and novel proposition. A few issues come to mind. 1) It's a bit convenient to call for reform once you're retired. 2) This will probably fail terribly in the courts because of the Roberts Court's leanings and suggestions that money is speech. Limiting donations would be limiting speech in this view and would be a violation of the 1st Amendment.

Brandon @ 11:44 AM PST, Jan 5, 2009

Money and power control who becomes our elected officials; always has and always will be how it's done. Our expectation of having elected officials maintain a false facade of "man/woman of the people" is quaint, but archaic. The entrenched powerbrokers behind the curtain are the problem; expose them and hold them accountable. There's your true reform.

JenAZ @ 11:23 AM PST, Jan 5, 2009

The first part is an all to predictable mea culpa. The second is the words of a newly converted zelot. President Obama's campaign demonstrated the power of the little people, live with it.

Dan King @ 8:41 AM PST, Jan 5, 2009

And while we're at it, abolish the tired and antiquated process of the primary system and political gas bags of the electoral college...not to mention ridding ourselves of the legalized form of election stealing through gerrymandering our congressional districts. Until these things happen, America will be the well deserved laughing stock of the world and continue to be viewed as the "democratic" hypocrites we continue to deny we are.

David Lucier @ 7:34 AM PST, Jan 5, 2009

Flawed logic on so many levels. The problem with this approach is that only the highest visibility races will easily attract donors. This will starve less attractive races for resources Then professional fundraisers will be needed to root out each and every dollar. It corrupts the finance system, buying not votes but money cards. Most people will simply not spend money on the ATM card. Campaigns will convert the ATM card to cash: I'll pay you $25 cash for yours so that I can put the $50 to my campaign. The campaign is up $15 after my commission.

krusherx @ 3:06 AM PST, Jan 5, 2009

I like the idea. We simply must find a way to resolve this abomination to our entire political system. The idea that any court has held that limits on contributions are limits on political free speech is so wrong minded it would have all of the founding fathers roiling in their graves. Huge sums of money spent in secret or through serpentine channels are far from free speech and more like extortion. If we don't break the financing system down it will continue to break our democracy and economy down.

Stan Arledge @ 2:46 AM PST, Jan 5, 2009