by Brad Hutchinson

Created on: October 24, 2007   Last Updated: March 19, 2008

Should the US government help fund election campaigns? Yes, not only the Federal Government, but State, County, and local governments, also, can and should fund their own elections through a dedicated tax-derived account system. Here's how such a system would, should, and can work. I'll use my hometown as an example. This simple, logical, and very democratic system is based on the inescapable fact of taxes. Any elected government body has some authority to levy and collect taxes, or fees, etc. At the City Council level, the elected Councilors have the legal authority to set, and collect property taxes, car registration fees, etc. So, from that pool of tax money, plus voluntary, (or involuntary!) contributions, a special, dedicated fund is set up. Any constituent, (or perhaps any interested person!), can contribute any amount to this special "election fund". All contributions must be made in the name of the contributor. Anonymous donations can be made, but only if they are paid through a non-anonymous, publicly named, "co-donor". Only one anonymous "pay-through" per "co-donor" per election cycle, though! Donations would be accepted only through the end of the filing period applicable. The amount in the fund, $100,000., for example, would be evenly divided among the 10 registered candidates, yielding $10,000. per candidate available to spend in whatever manner the candidate chooses. Thus, the fiscal restraint, or lack thereof, would be a factor in the voters decisions as to the best candidate. All financial records would be open to public scrutiny. A candidate could draw less than the $10,000. allowed, if they are creative and frugal in their campaign spending. Any "left-over" funds would "roll-over" to keep the account solvent. All local, public accessable banks in the appropriate jurisdiction would have an equivalent sized account under their control. Interest and fees would be equalized, relative to the size in dollar terms, of that financial institution. This is just a rough draft, so to speak, of how such a system would work. It could be "phased-in", or adopted all at once, depending on the results of a ballot question. If you find this system idea still somewhat confusing, look at the current Presidential candidates who are, or are not, using Public Financing rules at the Federal level. That system itself is a form of "beta-test" for this more comprehensive system. Please think about it, and help make the dream a reality- imagine a truly fair, honest, and transparent, near-corruption proof system of making elections truly democratic, and not just "democratic" in name only, as we have now. May God bless all Americans, especially all you Atheists. After all, it's the excesses of the infidels which help keep we true believers honest!

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