Choice 1 comments

[Elaine Manglitz <elaine@arches.uga.edu>]

Although I am not sure that more regulations on campaign finance spending will be effective, I think parts of choice 1 offer us some interesting avenues to consider. If limited,free airtime was made available to candidates, it could likely increase the quality and quantity of messages the voters hear from candidates. I agree that we need to look more closely at some of the states who are conducting partially funded elections, etc. and learn what we can from some of those attempts to deal with the problem.

I too am heartened by the number of young people who are participating in this forum; at a forum at the Carter Center in Atlanta on this topic, several members of our group discussed how civics education has seemed to decline over the years and how important it is for young people to grow up with exposure to the workings of our government. I would also add the importance of all of us, including young people, being exposed to multiple perspectives and viewpoints on any issue so we can begin to grasp the complexities involve and fashion a resonse.