This has happened primarily because successful political campaigns have become so expensive that candidates must solicit huge amounts of money from those who have it. If they want this stream of contributions to continue, they have to dance to the tune that their donors play. In addition, government has become a revolving door in which many of those who hold office or work for those who do, trade their service for vast riches by going to work for those who can make fertile use of their connections once they leave public service.
These factors, combined with the fact that campaigns have become very good at using our new media and their huge resources to manipulate public opinion, have led to a government that at the very least is no longer for the people.
This country is facing very serious problems. That's not new. What is new is that we are making practically no progress in addressing them because our government no longer serves the people. I don't see how that can change until we effectively take big money out of our political process.
In some past crises, we have been able to look to the Supreme Court to set things right. However, in this case through the Citizen's United decision and overturning campaign finance reform, they have made things much worse.
It appears to me that only through a constitutional amendment can we get our government back. This won't be easy. Those who benefit from the current system are those who have to initiate the changes. However, the people still ultimately hold the power if we get organized.
I am proposing the following constitutional amendment to address this problem. Admittedly, I am not a constitutional scholar or even an attorney, but someone needs to get the ball rolling. I have no doubt at all that much of what I have been proposed can be improved, but it is a starting point. What do you think?
Section 1
Only individual,
living, human beings shall be eligible to contribute to the campaigns of those
running for public office. No companies,
corporations, labor unions, political parties or other groups may contribute
directly or indirectly to political campaigns.
Section 2
Contributions to
political campaigns by individuals are limited to $500 per candidate per
election. Congress by a two-thirds vote of both Houses shall have the power to
adjust this amount, but in no case shall the maximum exceed the greater of $500
and 1% of the total compensation for the office the candidate is seeking. Such contributions may not be solicited or
received earlier than 1 year before the election for the office being sought.
Section 3
Individuals can
contribute only to the campaigns of candidates for whom they are eligible to
vote.
Section 4
No entity other than a
candidate’s duly recognized political campaign shall fund attempts to promote
one candidate or denigrate another for the purpose of influencing the outcome
of an election.
Section 5
When a campaign ends,
amounts collected for a candidate’s campaign but not used for that purpose must
be submitted to the federal, state, country, or city government for which the
office was sought. No amounts
contributed for a campaign may be retained by the individual seeking office for
their own use or carried forward for future elections.
Section 6
No member of Congress
nor any person employed in an official capacity by any member of Congress nor
any person contracted for substantial official work by a member of Congress may
be employed by any registered lobbying company or its agents for a period of 5
years following the termination of the member’s Congressional term. In addition, such a person may not act as a
paid consultant to Congress or its members.
