Being About Right

Recently, I was perusing the vast information superhighway known as the internet or web and came across a website "http://www.just6dollars.org" The website purports that if the Federal Government would take six dollars of every American’s taxes and put them towards a public fund for campaigns. The idea is to put popular campaigns on the same footing and eliminate corporate "control" over candidates. A noble concept considering Enron’s collapse and its large contribution to the Bush campaign before the largest corporate collapse in US history.

Campaign finance reform is a touchy subject. I understand the argument that if I’m Bill Gates and I’m sitting on over $20 billion, I should be able to donate a million or two to help my candidate be it John McCain, George Voinovich, George Bush, John Kerry, Bill Clinton, or Al Gore. My candidate however should not be indebted to me in such a way that favors my industy or company in the house bill that may limit my company’s profits or will give my business lucrative business opportunities. Businesses and individuals should be donating money to those whose ideals are best aligned with their own no aligning their monies with the candidate most likely to be influenced by their contribution. This is one half of the battle however, we need candidates that aren’t afraid to speak what they believe in for the sake of campaign contributions. Yes it takes money to win an election but it also take guts to be a true leader.