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Pop quiz: what system of government is defined by the rule of an elite caste of landowners and wealthy aristocrats over their peasant subjects, a rule codified in an elaborate set of rules and codes of conduct defined entirely at the whim of said rulers, who of course possess all of the wealth and most of the power?

If you answered feudalism, you're correct. If you answered American Democracy, tragically, you are also correct.

Election campaign costs have skyrocketed in the face of the privatization of election campaigning. Escalating competition has caused a fiscal arms race, with each side racing for more and bigger private donors. Candidates themselves must "buy in" to the election campaign with their own financial resources, or proven access to large monetary reserves from others - all too often these others are special interests with an axe to grind and money to burn. By the time an election rolls around, the contest has largely been decided by financial conflict; dollars the only votes that count.

Now, just for a moment, imagine a political system with a strict limit on political campaign expenses - all of which are provided by the government in a strictly rational and legislated format. Imagine equal funding for all candidates, giving a voice to every party. Imagine the end of private fundraising and special interest access. Imagine for a moment that every one of us had one vote - and that it couldn't be bought.

This world is just one short act of legislation away. Campaign financing can be, should be, MUST be the exclusive domain of government, and it must be strictly limited and strictly regulated.

This is the United States of America. Our government is by, for, and of the people - and we are NOT for sale.

Learn more about this author, Timothy Ellis.
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