Campaign finance laws harm democracy
In your July 25 editorial, “Shame on them,” you argue that former Los Angeles City Councilman Martin Ludlow’s ability to form a committee to pay his legal expenses is not “right.” I agree; it is ridiculous that Ludlow is even a felon.
Campaign financing laws are an impediment to the democratic process. Without campaign finance regulation, there would be no need for Ludlow to secretly put campaign workers on a union’s payroll; rather, he could hire campaign workers legally and openly. Besides encouraging illicit and illegal acts, campaign finance laws are a threat to freedom. Spending money is a form of free speech; when Ludlow hires campaign workers, they, in turn, carry out the message of the campaign. So let’s protect freedom and spend our time worrying about real felons.
JOSH M. PARKER
Falls Church, Va.
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