H
heath
I am completely new to this forum as well as to this site. I'm looking forward to engaging with this community.
I am left-leaning. I am volunteering for an organization that is attempting to address what they (and I) see as corruption in our political system. They worked with people all along the political continuum to draft the American Anti-Corruption Act. While they are making an effort to keep it bi-partisan, I can't help but notice that there seems to be more support coming from the left. Less so from the right. I am curious as to why this is. Obviously, I have my biases, so I am seeking to understand the issue from other angles and need your help to do so.
I am frustrated with the influence that lobbyists have with our elected officials. I am dismayed at the number of Congressmen (and women) who go on to be lobbyists when they are through with their terms. I am appalled by the amount of money pouring into various campaigns - I can't help but think that money is influencing policy and that those with more money end up with much louder voices in this country. To me, this is a corruption of our democracy.
I do have some conservative friends and have discussed this issue with them a bit, but like most, I tend to gravitate toward like minded people and my pool of conservative friends is rather small - which is why I'm here. In the conversations I've had, it seems that it comes down to freedom of speech and that putting limits on campaign contributions is limiting their freedom to do what they want with their money. Also, generally speaking, big business seems to be more right leaning and big business has quite the motivation to contribute largely to campaigns that they see will benefit them when it comes to influencing policy decisions.
But I see money influencing policy as a problem on all sides. It's like a nuclear arms race with each side trying to outdo the other. Unions and corporations are equally to blame.
I am frustrated by the GOP seeking campaign contributions from across the nation to influence a senate race in a particular state. Likewise, I am frustrated when the DNC (or an organization like Moveon.org) does the same. While I would love to see Wendy Davis in office, since I'm not a resident of TX, I don't feel it is my place to contribute to her campaign since she would be representing TX and not me.
If anyone on the conservative side is willing to shed some more light on their views about the Citizens United decision, or campaign finance reform in general, I would appreciate hearing from you.
Thank you,
-Heather
I am left-leaning. I am volunteering for an organization that is attempting to address what they (and I) see as corruption in our political system. They worked with people all along the political continuum to draft the American Anti-Corruption Act. While they are making an effort to keep it bi-partisan, I can't help but notice that there seems to be more support coming from the left. Less so from the right. I am curious as to why this is. Obviously, I have my biases, so I am seeking to understand the issue from other angles and need your help to do so.
I am frustrated with the influence that lobbyists have with our elected officials. I am dismayed at the number of Congressmen (and women) who go on to be lobbyists when they are through with their terms. I am appalled by the amount of money pouring into various campaigns - I can't help but think that money is influencing policy and that those with more money end up with much louder voices in this country. To me, this is a corruption of our democracy.
I do have some conservative friends and have discussed this issue with them a bit, but like most, I tend to gravitate toward like minded people and my pool of conservative friends is rather small - which is why I'm here. In the conversations I've had, it seems that it comes down to freedom of speech and that putting limits on campaign contributions is limiting their freedom to do what they want with their money. Also, generally speaking, big business seems to be more right leaning and big business has quite the motivation to contribute largely to campaigns that they see will benefit them when it comes to influencing policy decisions.
But I see money influencing policy as a problem on all sides. It's like a nuclear arms race with each side trying to outdo the other. Unions and corporations are equally to blame.
I am frustrated by the GOP seeking campaign contributions from across the nation to influence a senate race in a particular state. Likewise, I am frustrated when the DNC (or an organization like Moveon.org) does the same. While I would love to see Wendy Davis in office, since I'm not a resident of TX, I don't feel it is my place to contribute to her campaign since she would be representing TX and not me.
If anyone on the conservative side is willing to shed some more light on their views about the Citizens United decision, or campaign finance reform in general, I would appreciate hearing from you.
Thank you,
-Heather