Campaign Reform

Re “Time to Gear Up the Straight Talk Express,” Commentary, March 23: Arianna Huffington’s hyperbole--comparing McCain-Fein-gold with the Voting Rights Act--does little to advance the debate over campaign finance reform. Voting rights addressed a major injustice and directly affected millions of disenfranchised Americans. Perhaps people don’t believe that restricting Big Labor or Big Insurance (or whatever “Big” is the boogeyman du jour) from contributing to political parties or airing “issue ads” will improve the character of those politicians whose votes can be so easily bought.

We don’t need a Selma-type tragedy or endless chanting about undefined “corruption” to get this bill passed. What we need is an honest discussion about the nature of the problem, how it affects our lives and how this particular “solution” will fix it.

EDWARD M. YOUNG

Pasadena

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Re “Senators Vote to Assist Candidates Facing Rich Foes,” March 21: Parliamentary give and take shouldn’t obscure the fundamental issue of the McCain-Feingold bill. Americans are growing increasingly cynical about our processes of governance, particularly the purchase of “access” to legislators by large and growing gifts of money.

Most senators successfully used the present system of campaign financing for their election, so it’s understandable that they should feel some reluctance to change it. But times change and governmental processes must change too, if we are to keep the Congress’ integrity level appropriately high. Senators, don’t let your reluctance deprive the nation of this opportunity to reassert the appearance--and reality--of fairness in the electoral process. Please pass this bill.

DONALD E. MUELLER

Huntington Beach

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If we had campaign finance reform 20 years ago we might not have our current economic and energy crises. Our politicians are driven by political payoffs and not good, long-term public policy. The long-term economic and environmental health is being sacrificed for short-term payoffs. The people of this country can no longer influence the public dialogue. Soft money and corruption are killing our democracy.

PAUL ARMS

Huntington Beach