Just a note on the Free Speech Argument

[Joe Simmons <chebmonkey@aol.com>]

I believe that those who argue that donating money is simply a form of symbolic speech, that it is a constitutionally protected form of free speech are completely wrong.  According to Senator Wellstone (D-Minnesota), in the 1996 election cycle 0.11% of the voting population donated $200 or more to National political parties.  This number concerns me greatly, and says that only those with money have the ability to influence and access the political system.  If that many people, roughly 30,000 individuals in a counry of nearly 290 million have that form of "free speech," then it is not free at all.  It has a price tag, and it separates all those with money to spend and those without as people that Government leadership ignores.  Money is a barrier that separate those with influence ans political clout and those without, period.