"Campaign
Finance Reform"
Virtually
everyone in and around politics has had something to say about so-called
"campaign finance reform," including us. It is now here,
in the Lewis Carroll reality of Shays-Meehan, the bill passed by
the House of Representatives.
Every
citizen who cares anything at all about the Constitution and participation
in the political process should read
it.
That
will not be easy. The bill is intentionally written to be obscure
and impenetrable, just the way you would do it if you were perpetrating
the greatest legislative scam of our lifetime.
Boiled
down to its fundamental components, the bill has a singular purpose:
Diminish the political voice of everyone in this country other than
incumbent members of Congress (and the media, which is exempt).
For themselves, these worthies actually voted an increase
in campaign contribution limits. Should they find themselves running
against someone with his or her own money to spend, well, the limits
are raised again.
As
you read the billor try toremind yourself that political
speech is the most important that can be made, and it costs money
to speak effectively. At each provision, ask yourself how that could
conceivably comport with those powerful, simple words of the First
Amendment: "Congress shall make no law
abridging the freedom
of speech
or the right of the people peacefully to assemble,
and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
Ask
yourself what you think of those, your representatives, who voted
to violate their oath to uphold that Constitution. Compare the words
of statesmen trying to build a government of balance, accountability
and durability with the deceitful jargon of those interested only
in self-preservation.
Knowledge
may not, in this case, translate to power, but at least youll
know youve been had.
[Posted
February 21, 2002]
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