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The idea of the government funding elections is just another symptom of a government that has gone from protecting our freedoms to regulating our lives. As it is now, with "Campaign Finance Reform," we have restricted what people can say in the most critical time before an election, what ads they can buy, and how much they can choose to give to the candidate of their choice. All these things restrict the ability of the people to affect the outcomes of national elections. It empowers the media, on the right and left, and insulates politicians from having to be accountable to the people.

Now add to that the idea of government funding the elections. This allows the government to decide who gets funding and how much. It also would force candidates to accept the government's decisions on how the money can be used. This is no different than how states must accept a host of federal requirements, from seat belt laws to speed limits, in order to be eligible for federal funding for their roads (even though the money is taken, without choice, from the people of the states). Additionally, these laws and regulations would be decided by those already in power, giving incumbents another advantage against upstarts who seek to hold them accountable for the actions they take.

Federal funding for elections is just another bad idea with a pretty wrapping, and it will only help to make sure that our elected officials don't have the burden of accountability to their electorate.

Learn more about this author, Ken Miller.
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