In the USA we give enormous power to our elected officials, and too few of us vote in the first place. As Fred Foldvary has pointed out, "mass" democracy is sham democracy, far too easy to corrupt.
"Campaign finance reform" would make it a bit harder for money to control our elected officials. It doesn't go to the root of the problem, but it would provide some relief. So let's support it. Here's the latest news from the first champions of campaign finance reform, Common Cause: SENATE REFORM LEADERS TO PUSH FOR VOTE ON MCCAIN-FEINGOLD LEGISLATION AS EARLY AS NEXT WEEK
Reform supporters in the Senate, led by Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Russ Feingold (D-WI) have announced that they will call for a vote on campaign finance reform by attaching the McCain-Feingold legislation to other business pending before the Senate probably as early as Tuesday, September 8.
A majority of Senators (52) supports McCain-Feingold, but opponents of reform will once again attempt an obstructionist filibuster to block a vote on the bill. Senate rules allow a minority to filibuster endlessly debate the bill unless 60 Senators vote to end debate and allow a vote on the bill itself.
McCain-Feingold bans soft money the huge unregulated contributions form corporate polluters, tobacco companies and other wealthy and powerful interests that were at the center of the 1996 election scandals.
Common Cause has identified the following Senators as being especially critical in the fight to pass McCain-Feingold in the Senate:
Sen. Tim Hutchinson (AR)
Sen. John Kyl (AZ)
Sen. Wayne Allard (CO)
Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (CO)
Sen. Bill Roth (DE)
Sen. Chuck Grassley (IA)
Sen. Dan Coats (IN)
Sen. Richard Lugar (IN)
Sen. Sam Brownback (KS)
Sen. Spencer Abraham (MI)
Sen. John Ashcroft (MO)
Sen. Christopher Bond (MO)
Sen. Chuck Hagel (NE)
Sen. Judd Gregg (NH)
Sen. Alfonse D’Amato (NY)
Sen. Lauch Faircloth (NC)
Sen. Mike Dewine (OH)
Sen. Gordon Smith (OR)
Sen. Bill Frist (TN)
If you are represented by any of these Senators, please contact them today and urge them to support the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform legislation and to oppose efforts to kill reform with an obstructionist filibuster.
Let your Senators know that campaign finance reform is supported by a majority in the House of Representatives, a majority in the United States Senate, and a majority of the American people, and should not be held hostage by obstructionist, filibuster tactics. Tell them that a vote for the filibuster is a vote to continue the corrupt scandals and influence-peddling that dominated the 1996 elections.
You can reach your Senator through the U. S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121, or find your Senator’s email address at: http://www.commoncause.org/download/senatefull.htm