Comments for Cleaning Up Elections: Iowa Could Inch Toward Publicly Financed Elections This Year at http://www.rcreader.com , comment 1 to 3 out of 3 comments http://www.rcreader.com Fri, 10 Sep 2010 13:28:11 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.rcreader.com/news/cleaning-up-elections-iowa-could/#comment-123 C. Michaels, the "common man" - and woman, to be politically correct - loses his voice in the political process not because of apathy and ignorance but because of the structure of the very system you seem to be defending. Common people simply cannot compete with big business and special interest groups who donate thousands of dollars to representatives who protect their interests once in office. I don't think you give Joe Q. Public enough credit; in fact, I think it is his voice that is stymied by the current campaign finance system. Public financing, which IS a voluntary system, would curb the influence of interest groups and give voice to the individuals you call "lazy." - Angela D'Orazio Tue, 06 Feb 2007 13:23:29 +0100 http://www.rcreader.com/news/cleaning-up-elections-iowa-could/#comment-122 People with money to spare for political contributions are not the only ones who care about public policy and the issues of the day and voters shouldn't get more or less recognition or influence based on how much they can afford to pump into the process. By financing political campaigns with nonpartisan public funds we insure that all candidates who qualify and agree to forego private donations will get to make their case to the electorate and, if elected, will be free to represent all their constituents, not just the ones who gave the most money. It's time to end pay-to-play politics and return to democracy. (For more info see www.just6dollars.org or www.publicampaign.org) - Craig Dunkerley Mon, 05 Feb 2007 22:26:03 +0100 http://www.rcreader.com/news/cleaning-up-elections-iowa-could/#comment-118 The real problem here is the ignorance of the common man. Should those who want to have a voice in the political system via their donations be stymied because Joe Q. Public is too lazy to pick up a newspaper, or do some research before heading to the polls? Financial participation in the political process borders on a first amendment right. If a majority of "money" candidates get elected because Joe Q. Public evaluates his candidates by what he sees on TV between rounds of Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune, so be it. Americans get the government they deserve based on the level of involvement they are willing to put into the process. Don't punish the rest of us who do get involved because of those too lazy to do anything but complain about the outcome. - C Michaels Sat, 03 Feb 2007 14:21:55 +0100