tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post114877669504903759..comments2020-04-11T03:30:02.282-05:00Gary R. Welshhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15185079937305083438noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-1148995824266043482006-05-30T08:30:00.000-05:002006-05-30T08:30:00.000-05:00Quite agree with RiShawn. The actual purpose of McCain-Feingold was to create an incumbent protection program. The public sadly bought it as campaign finance reform, but it is nothing of the kind.Legacy Userhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642308202874030326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-1148945795910890392006-05-29T18:36:00.000-05:002006-05-29T18:36:00.000-05:00^That's because McCain-Feingold isn't as much about reforming campaign finance than about further assuring that the current system remains one that favors incumbents over challengers. There's are a number of other reasons, notably gerrymandering, why it's become easier for incumbents to remain in office. But a complex system of campaign finance disclosure that, oddly enough, keeps challengers from financing campaigns with large donors interested in change is one of them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-1148924611495752432006-05-29T12:43:00.000-05:002006-05-29T12:43:00.000-05:00Mark--I totally agree. I think the disclosure is very important, but I think it could be accomplished in a much more straight-forward manner. One of the disappointing aspects of McCain-Feingold is how much further it complicated the law in an effort to reform the system.Gary R. Welshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185079937305083438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12703782.post-1148922750383044092006-05-29T12:12:00.000-05:002006-05-29T12:12:00.000-05:00The campaign finance requirements for both the state and FEC are complex and I've seen time and again how they have discouraged competition. One of the most poignant events I've observed was several years ago at a meeting of the Indiana Election Commission. A person who had run in a primary was fined for a violation. It was clear she was trying to become involved in the political process as a good citizen. I heard her say, after she received her fine, words to the effect that she got the message and she'll never run again because ordinary citizens shouldn't dare run against the "politicos" who created these complex rules.<BR/><BR/>If we truly want "campaign finance reform", we need to do away with these incumbent protection acts by repealing the current scheme of campaign finance laws. They are now used to stifle dissent through fines, bureaucracies and their mind-numbing complexity. To the extent they've stifled competition, they are a complete success.Mark W. Rutherfordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07970323195039101487noreply@blogger.com