Former Senator John Edwards said Thursday he will accept Public Funding for his Presidential campaign,and challenged his chief rivals to do the same.

Is this the way forward for American Politics?

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/09/27/edwards.public.financing/index.html

I never understood why the federal government even does this.... I show me where is it necessary.. You have to raise a certain amount of cash in 20 different states and then there is a 250 cap per person donating. You do all this and you are granted a match for each new donation.

So if you still are a small draw they just double your small funds...If your a big draw they double your big funds.... with a 50 million cap... ... I understand fully how it works,but see no real value to it

Hmm,got lost inbits of your post.Maybe with so many different elections,youve a point.
Do you think it should be introduced,but limited to election for Washington,ie,Congress,House,White House,give everyone a fair chance with the same amount of funding.

Hmm,got lost inbits of your post.Maybe with so many different elections,youve a point.
Do you think it should be introduced,but limited to election for Washington,ie,Congress,House,White House,give everyone a fair chance with the same amount of funding.


no no no... nobody should get the funding.. there should be no funding... lets these bitches actually go out there and prove themselves in say the House or the Senate,or as a Governor...and let their record speak for themselves... the hell with swift boats or basis media sources.. Let these people prove what they say and say what they prove..

Dosent that leave it open to lobbyists influencing the candidates.
I read someplace that Clinton has raised nearly a quarter billion in
campaign funds,way ahead of anyone else,yet on the other hand,
McCain has went bust.

In Ireland and the UK,wach candidate is allowed to spend about $40,000 tops.

Dosent that leave it open to lobbyists influencing the candidates.
I read someplace that Clinton has raised nearly a quarter billion in
campaign funds,way ahead of anyone else,yet on the other hand,
McCain has went bust.

In Ireland and the UK,wach candidate is allowed to spend about $40,000 tops.

40k would get an half page ad in a two bit newspaper

Well obviously in da US you would have to throw then a few bucks more,say $10m each,thats it,the tv and papers would do the rest.

Is this the way forward for American Politics?



Public Financing of Elections is the ONLY way we will ever clean up our government.

It is the one key reform that makes all other reforms possible.

It works very well in places where it has already been enacted, like Portland, OR.

Public funding makes sense. What doesn't is the campaigning that begins 2 years or more out from the elections. Let it start one year out from election day, hold the major party primaries by Memorial Day, draw public funding on Independence Day.

I know there are free speech issues involved, but wouldn't it be nice to put a reasonable cap on the number of campaign ads leading up to an election?

Do we really need to hear "Candidate X is a liar" and "Candidate Y kills babies" fifteen times an hour for weeks on end?

I read someplace that Clinton has raised nearly a quarter billion in
campaign funds,.

Quarter billion would be 250 million. No one is near that figure. I think Clinton has barely cleared 25 million.

I know there are free speech issues involved, but wouldn't it be nice to put a reasonable cap on the number of campaign ads leading up to an election?

Do we really need to hear "Candidate X is a liar" and "Candidate Y kills babies" fifteen times an hour for weeks on end?


I wouldnt say that hinders free speach at all. There are plenty of movon.org/dirtyliberal.com sites out there if you really feel the need to hear mud slinging.... We dont need to see it in our officials hoping to get elected.

I absolutely agree with public funding of campaigns and a cap on private funding. Campaign contributions from lobbyists and special interest groups are little more than bribes and only hamper progress.

Quarter billion would be 250 million. No one is near that figure. I think Clinton has barely cleared 25 million.Yes your right,I read a news article figures wrongly,apoligies.

I absolutely agree with public funding of campaigns and a cap on private funding. Campaign contributions from lobbyists and special interest groups are little more than bribes and only hamper progress.
Indeed!

I am against public funding of elections. I don't think the government should be in the business of funding elections. While I don't like PACs pouring money into elections and while it distresses me that organizations like Moveon.org spend so much on elections I still see it as part of the American electoral process. If you can get enough people to give you their money because they believe in you I am fine with that even if I despise you as a candidate or despise the groups or individuals who are giving you money.

I don't want the government deciding who does and does not get campaign funds.

Get rid of campaign reform.