Campaign Finance

[Matthew Dewhirst]

     The topic of campaign finance has become increasingly interesting to me since my research paper was over this topic. Issues surrounding campaign finance and campaign contributions are extremely important in the current political environment in the United States. Not only is it important to know where campaign contributions originate in order to avoid conflict of interest type situations, but regulating contributions is imperative because these regulations are the very thing that limits the amount of impact money has on the electoral process. In this article, Beth Rowen addresses some very interesting points in her introduction. She speaks to the argument that limiting campaign contributions is infringing on the right to free speech, which is a legitimate point of view, although i believe it can be refuted. Personally, I am of the belief that less regulations will allow money to have too much influence on elections. I am in favor of regulations in order to maintain a level playing field where candidates will be judged not on how much they have spent on their campaign, but on their qualifications and the principles on which their plant form is built.

     Rowen then outlines in detail, significant legislation from 1890-2014 related to campaign finance. The most recent of which passed in 2014, the legislation affected the free speech stipulation I mentioned before. Experts have concerns about this legislation saying the impact on campaigns will be astronomically more than anticipated. i continue to hold to the view that more stringent regulations affect the system in a positive way. By limiting the financial contributions of a single entity, we reduce the possibility that elections could be influenced more by money than by popular vote.

http://www.infoplease.com/us/history/campaign-finance-reform-timeli...

[Sarah Locus]

The article that you drew from is great, I kind of want to send it to my boss. I've been working in a congressman's campaign office for about two years, and campaign contributions can be a tricky topic (and by tricky topic I mean a cause of never-ending confusion and rage). Money is important, yes, but when a person is getting money from all the wrong places it's time to take a step back and evaluate their priorities. It's important to be a defensive voter and question where a person's money is coming from, and you are 100% right in feeling that there needs to be more restrictions in place. There should be! 

If you really are interested in this sort of stuff, you might try this website. You can look up politicians as well as private citizens. 

[David Brandon]

I agree that strict regulatory measures should be placed on campaign funding. I also think that the regulations placed on the campaign funding will have extremely strong implications even after the candidate is elected. You mentioned how regulating the finances would level the playing field and limit the single lump sum given by one entity. I am in complete favor of this, I think it should after all not be based off of who had the best fireworks and BBQ but who is truly the better candidate for the position, but since these large companies cannot give their huge contributions, how are they going to react to this. One company might give a certain candidate a load of money because their legislation might help the company. Well, when this is prohibited, whats going to happen to these large companies who are not able to sway the decision with their money? just something rolling around in the old head up here.