After reading 2 books on the 2007-2008 collapse in the finance industry and several other books about our broken political system,contemplating the, IMO stupid, SCOTUS’ Citizens United decision and being ever disgusted by the half-truths and outright lies used by politicians and their supporters on BOTH sides, I seriously wonder if we will never truly make headway without a constitutional amendment regarding campaign financing – and maybe even the conduct and timing of campaigns.

A corporation is not a person and individuals should not be able to contribute $40,000,000 or more simply because they can afford to and others can’t. This type of free speech is not equal speech and threatens to bring the tyranny of the minority down on all of us less powerful citizens (the REAL “persons” !!!) !!!

What might such an amendment include?

• limits on contributions ?
  – with or without meaningful and deterring penalties (financial, jail time, loss of position if the violator was elected?) for violating them?
• limits of the period within which campaigns can be active?
• limits requiring all messaging to be approved by the candidates themselves?
• define some sort of meaningful and deterring punishment if lies and half-truths are included in messaging?

What do you think about the above ideas?

What other ideas might you propose for consideration?

GOOD NIGHT, IRENE !!