‘Checkbook in the Fog’

I disagree with your editorial (Jan. 17), “Checkbook in the Fog,” which supported public financing for political campaigns. I see nothing wrong with unlimited, private campaign expenses as long as major contributions are reported and promulgated.

Every time I hear of a multimillion-dollar campaign, I smile. I think of all the work and jobs it creates--without raising taxes either!

Each election my mailbox becomes a garbage dump for political literature--Republican, Democrat, radical, reactionary. I do not care. Some I look at. Most I file. Anyone who wants to employ a host of individuals in occupations from paper production to printing, to mailing at no cost to me, I salute. I will proudly sacrifice my mailbox each time. I have stood in too many employment lines with an empty wallet and a gnawing stomach to do otherwise.

Also, private campaign money comes out of the pockets of the aspiring politician and those who try to press their selfish interests. They have to pay for what they hope to get. Nevertheless, this country has intrinsic protections against bad campaigns. Any real corrupt politician or harmful cause soon gets exposed by an alert news media. The news media salivates like a hungry wolf when it sniffs corruption. Corruption sells papers. A lot of papers.

Another cost-efficient protection against unwanted causes is a plethora of do-gooders in this country. They work cheap too. They are the intrepid volunteers who merrily bounce house-to-house in inclement weather, beat on your door until it opens, and buttonhole you as they jabber about the lurking devil. Our postal service should be as effective in its deliveries.

Now the legislators want the public to pay for their campaigns. We have paid them once. Why not twice? I would like my boss to pay my job costs again so I could use my salary I already got from him that included those costs on luxuries and vacations. Smart. It is a sucker’s game. The public would be the sucker in the political game though.

LAWRENCE E. LONG

Los Angeles