First Amendemnt

[Kevin T. Brady <KBrady@Billofrightsinstitute.org>]

When the media continuously offers "alienation, distrust, and disillusionment" as reasons for America's seemingly apathetic attitude toward politics, might they be self-serving descriptions.  Who will benefit the most from strict control of campaign financing?  If candidates do not have avenues to disseminate their messages, will media giants such as: AOL Time-Warner, Disney, Fox, and Westinghouse have tremendous influence over what messages we receive?

I would like to know what people think about campaign finance restrictions, when we look at them next to First Amendment protections.  When James Madison included freedom of speech in the First Amendment, his contemporaries understood him to mean "political" speech.  Today we include all types of "_expression_" as protected by the First Amendment.  Are we, ironically, now protecting all kinds of speech except political speech?  

Can like-minded people organize and advertise their specific political positions?  Can they advertise their support for certain candidates, or will only the New York Times (or Wall Street Journal) be able to publish an advertisement on their editorial page?

The Media often report on the American people's apathetic attitude toward politics.  They also report on the severe lack of civic knowledge found in polls or tests of Americans' political knowledge.  Could political ignorance contribute to people's "distrust" of government?  Sometimes it is easier to say, "the whole thing stinks," and self-righteously refuse to discuss issues. It may be harder to learn the issues and check on what our representatives are actually doing, or not doing.  Thomas Jefferson warned citizens to constantly check on their representatives.  John Adams believed that the citizen's must be moral and educated, or the "experiment" will fail.  Are we living up to the Founders expectations?

Have we properly prepared our citizens to understand the workings of government and politics?  Once prepared, do modern citizens really care about the government?  Maybe other venues of entertainment are more alluring.  Citizenship requires a sense of duty.   Is it easier to not pay attention?   I believe these questions have to be answered before we can arrive at any ameliorative solutions.  What do you think?