Fairness in Campaign Financing

Julie Froeberg’s commentary on Prop. 140 missed the point on several aspects of the proposition.

First, toward the end of her article Froeberg lists her suggestions for achieving real accountability. They include: assessing candidates more personally; higher voter turnouts; more competitive legislative districts.

Well, those things haven’t been achieved in decades and now probably can’t be done at all--ever--because the self-serving incumbents have restructured the government to make it serve them, not us. There was a Prop. 140 because those things don’t work.

Second, we are not interested in attracting “top people” nor “the best decision makers”; it’s not a job requirement. We just want policy direction-setting people who have some regard for property rights, some concept of Western Civilization’s historical flow toward greater individual freedom and some personal inkling that higher taxes and more laws usually are not the answer to all problems.

Third, while I’m sure Froeberg, (state Sen. Marian) Bergeson and many others are honest, wise, principled people, democracy is doomed if it requires only the best and brightest to make it work. Since average people like me must choose which principles and policies government should implement and must choose who will do the implementing, government must remain general, simple and straightforward at the public voting level.

STEPHEN J. MOORE, Irvine