This is an archive of a past election.
See http://www.smartvoter.org/ca/state/ for current information.
San Diego, Orange County, CA June 5, 2012 Election
Smart Voter

Election Finance Reform

By Dick Eiden

Candidate for United States Representative; District 49

This information is provided by the candidate
Effective election finance reform demands that we limit the amounts any single entity or individual may contribute to political campaigns, whether the contributions go directly to a candidate, to a political party or to a political action committee (PAC).
To return power to the voter, we must reform the system of campaign financing which currently gives wealthy individuals and corporations undue influence in public affairs. Multinational corporations and their armies of lobbyists have hijacked our democracy. As long as the careers of politicians hinge upon how well they serve their wealthy donors, not on how well they represent their constituents, we will be mired in "politics as usual" and unable to bring about needed change. Candidates of both major parties have been taken hostage by moneyed interests who contribute to their campaigns.

Effective reform requires limits on amounts that any single entity--an individual, corporation, union, or special interest group--may contribute to candidates or political parties. I support independent Senator Bernie Sanders and others who are leading the charge to amend the Constitution to make it clear that corporations are not people and money is not speech, flawed concepts which have opened the floodgates to unlimited moneyed influence.

Ultimately, I believe we should consider a system of public financing of elections. Yes, there would be expense involved, but I believe our government would save far more than it now wastes in spending mandated by legislators seeking to satisfy the demands of wealthy donors. Finally, I would like to see the election season shortened. If campaigns sought to truly educate voters, the prolonged battles could be justified, but that is not the case. Elections are not sport; however, much campaign rhetoric treats it as such and does nothing to clarify the issues. Tremendous amounts of resources are consumed. Briefer, more focused campaigns would better serve us all.

Next Page: Position Paper 2

Candidate Page || Feedback to Candidate || This Contest
June 2012 Home (Ballot Lookup) || About Smart Voter


ca/state Created from information supplied by the candidate: May 26, 2012 19:12
Smart Voter <http://www.smartvoter.org/>
Copyright © League of Women Voters of California Education Fund.
The League of Women Voters neither supports nor opposes candidates for public office or political parties.