It's your ConCon. What do you want to do with it? Learn - Discuss - Decide
Limit campaign contributions to individuals living in election district ?
We all know that politicians seem to stay in office and get re-elected forever, even when they are obviously lousy. One reason incumbents keep getting re-elected is because they get huge campaign contributions from corporations and labor unions and individual fat-cats, so the elected official then feels obligated to do whatever they demand. An example is "pay to play" in the construction contracting business.
One cure is term limits. But term limits violate the right of the people to choose whomever they want. If the people really want to keep re-electing the same official, because they value his experience or positions on the issues, then that should be up to the people.
Maybe a better solution is for the Constitution to limit campaign contributions to individuals living in the election district. Prohibit campaign contributions from corporations, labor unions, and from individuals living outside the boundaries of the district served by the office-holder.
Thus a candidate for Governor could accept contributions only from individuals living in Hawaii; a candidate for the Windward seat on the Honolulu City Council could take contributions only from individuals who live in that Windward district.
This would be an appropriate issue for con-con, because no Legislature will ever voluntarily pass a law to prohibit corporations, labor unions, and outsiders from giving campaign contributions.
One cure is term limits. But term limits violate the right of the people to choose whomever they want. If the people really want to keep re-electing the same official, because they value his experience or positions on the issues, then that should be up to the people.
Maybe a better solution is for the Constitution to limit campaign contributions to individuals living in the election district. Prohibit campaign contributions from corporations, labor unions, and from individuals living outside the boundaries of the district served by the office-holder.
Thus a candidate for Governor could accept contributions only from individuals living in Hawaii; a candidate for the Windward seat on the Honolulu City Council could take contributions only from individuals who live in that Windward district.
This would be an appropriate issue for con-con, because no Legislature will ever voluntarily pass a law to prohibit corporations, labor unions, and outsiders from giving campaign contributions.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Daniel de Gracia II on -
Well, I personally am waiting for the day that Paris Hilton will file papers to run for U.S. Representative :D
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Permalink Reply by Auntie Pupule on -
dekepalo said:limit it to $3,000.00 for all. Level the field
As a Candidate for City Council and one who can count on one hand how much kala I have received so far....it doesn't come close in matching the Public Funds. It's a long shot. Den again...God move mountains. Leveling the field would make it better. But the Politicians who already have War Chests would never agree. They in it for the $$$ not for the people.
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