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Hightower Lowdown
"You can put earrings on a hog, but it won't hide the ugliness." -- Jim Hightower
In This Issue
Electoral reform isn’t starry-eyed theory, it’s happening!
People are electing candidates who shun corporate cash
Also in this issue:
Do Something!
February's Lowdown
How corporate money took over Washington--and created the mobs who rant against reform
Despite a constant racket from the forces of the far-out right (Fox television's yackety-yackers, just-say-no GOP know-nothings, tea-bag howlers, Sarah Palinistas, et al.), the great majority of Americans support a bold progressive agenda for our country, ranging from Medicare for all to the decentralization and re-regulation of Wall Street. Indeed, in the elections of 2006 and 2008, people voted for a fundamental break from Washington's 30-year push to enthrone a corporate kleptocracy.
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The People Speak
It’s common for opponents of public financing to dismiss it as a Big Government intrusion that people don’t want. Apparently, these CE adversaries failed to check with the people on this. In a national survey last June, pollster Celinda Lake did check with folks on how they felt about applying the clean-election concept to congressional elections. The results:
■ 74% support having voluntary public funding of federal elections (57% strongly support it and only 16% oppose it).
■ 60% of Republicans favor this reform (as do 80% of Democrats and 78% of Independents).
■ All age groups, genders, and regions support it--most by about 75% majorities (none by less than 60%).
■ 82% say public funding means candidates will win on ideas, not money; 81% say politicians will be accountable to voters, not large donors; and 77% say special interests will not receive as many favors and insider deals from officeholders.
Some say we shouldn’t give our tax dollars to politicians. Hello! We give ALL of our tax dollars to politicians! Instead of letting them allocate our tax funds based on who paid for their campaigns, let’s fund campaigns publicly, so there’s no conflict of interest.