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To: benwood who wrote (102782)	4/19/2009 8:05:02 PM
From: Skeeter Bug	3 Recommendations Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 110194

>>What the hell then... perhaps it is campaign finance reform. Not pretend, but real.<< this is big, which is why it will never happen. another item of critical importance is that anyone who runs for office can't be allowed to take private money after they leave office. the days of $100 million post office pay days (see bill clinton) have to end. one can't make rational decisions if one is worried about the $10 million a year they will earn in a few short years - especially the younger guys like obama and clinton. that is public service, not what these thieves are doing today that they call "public service."

To: benwood who wrote (102782)	4/19/2009 9:35:41 PM
From: Sunny Jim	3 Recommendations Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 110194

<<What the hell then... perhaps it is campaign finance reform. Not pretend, but real. This business of running for President starting 18 or more months before the election is for the birds.>> Benwood, no perhaps about it. The answer is definitely campaign finance reform. Campaign financing as it stands is simply an embedded system of buying access and favors. The more you pay, the bigger the reward. It has darn little to do with free speech, but more to do with "money and influence" enterprise. Until we break the link between campaign contributions and special interests, we will continue to get the bought and paid for government we have. I know I'll get responses telling me about all the small individual contributions that were made in the recent election, but the reality is there were more of the powerful special interest contributions and those are the ones that are getting paid back. Until we have publicly funded elections where candidates get equal funds based on the population of the district, there is no chance that we will get rid of the current money influence. But don't hold your breath. The rules are made by the current power brokers(ie, Congress) and they aren't about to give up the political influence system that would require them to rule in the best interest of all the people. This is perhaps one of the flaws of our constitution, that it didn't cover this type of check and balance.