Serve the Money or Serve the People

Special-interest money is at the root of almost every problem in the American political system. Every member of Congress, like it or not, is beholden to a small group of contributors, not to the public. Our system, our rights and justice itself are drowning in a sea of money. We should all remember that public financing would cost us $3 per person per year, while corporate and other giveaways cost us about $1,000 a year.

Right now, the Shays-Meehan bill is in Congress. All of us and the media should hold our representatives to this litmus test of their integrity. Do they serve the people, or are they so comfortable and corrupted by the money system that they want to perpetuate it? If they prefer the money, then we should respond accordingly and, Democrat or Republican, throw them out.

Marc Merson

Sherman Oaks

Any second-year history student could easily point out the factual errors, confusions and biases of Tom Krannawitter and Ben Boychuk (“McCain-Feingold Isn’t Progress; It’s Progressivism,” Commentary, July 4). Progressivism, a highly fragmented movement primarily of business and professional groups seeking their own security, was very far from “a radical philosophy.” That Progressives sought “unlimited, bureaucratic government” is dead wrong. The connection with Franklin Roosevelt is tenuous (most surviving Progressives condemned the New Deal as dangerously leftist), and that with Lyndon Johnson is ridiculous. And the idea that campaign finance reform is some sort of covert action to increase the power of the national government represents a unique form of political paranoia. Heaven help those who learn their history at the Claremont Institute!

John M. Allswang

Emeritus Professor of History

Cal State L.A

Krannawitter and Boychuk have it right that election reform follows abuses perceived during reform movements. Reform movements, in turn, follow abuses of power through money and elections. We’re at one of those places again. The power of money, not freedom of expression, is rightly seen as an abuse of power. It is time for the government to act on behalf of the people. That is what it is for.

J.D. Parriott Sr.

Oxnard

When I hear about $100,000 soft-money contributions, I know that the people making those contributions expect something in return. Every politician has dirty hands--even the most honorable. It must stop. Give us a reason to believe again. After the brave work of so many senators in passing the McCain-Feingold bill, it looks like cynical opponents in the House are ready to fight to the death before letting real reform get through. The House version of McCain-Feingold should be passed. We can’t let this opportunity go by.

Beatrice Steelman

Los Angeles