RE: Introduction Questions

[Nina Powers <npowers@Home.com>]

Greetings,

 Reading the posted messages is interesting. There are several libertarian like viewpoints against campaign finance reform because of the fear of government interfering with personal freedoms. What's happening now is huge amounts of soft money are being contributed by corporations and obscenely wealthy individuals. These are investments. Returns and considerations are expected. This is the "freedom" that will be mitigated, not my personal freedoms, nor those of my children. Campaign finance reform will not take away my Free Speech rights either. 

 The selected president took in almost 200 million, a new record.The single largest contributor to that campaign, Enron Corp., is making huge profits due to the energy crisis in California. The present administration solution to lending any support to Californians is to drill for oil in a public trust National Refuge. Who will profit from that, me or the oil money financing this presidency?

 I'm puzzled by the comment "Buddhist Temple fiasco". IRS does not allow not for profit religious organizations to contribute to political candidates. The DNC returned their money. The Christian Coalition, that has been fighting with IRS over their tax exempt status, employs lobbyists and spends millions under the 527 Section of the tax code to get their candidates elected. But that's okay? I also don't understand the comment that campaign finance reform legislation needs to be introduced by someone other than McCain and Feingold. Their bill is a start towards protecting the interests of the American public from the influence huge political contributors have over shaping policy that affect my family. Politicians are supposed to be public servants, not corporate servants. Until political contribution limits, and full public disclosure is the law of the land,government of,for,and by the people will continue to erode.

 The McCain/ Feingold bill will enhance my voice being heard by my representative. I need a more level playing field, I can't contribute half a million, send lobbyists, or run TV ads to influence the election.