RE: my humble thoughts on Choice 1

[Doris Fine <doris_fine@hotmail.com>]

Sarah,

I agree that there needs to be public support for campaigns. We pay for highways, defense, education, etc. Why shouldn't we support the foundation of our democratic system, namely, the development of candidates to be our representatives and our leaders. 

But checking off $3 on income tax reforms is not the answer. First of all, not all voters file tax forms. I wonder what you think of the government providing a voucher for every citizen to use to support the candidate or party or advocacy group s/he thinks best represents her/his interest? The money would go to all voters and that is the money that would have to be used in campaigns. Candidates could not seek other sources, but could try to win the people's vouchers as well as their votes as their ticket to winning. Lobbyists would get no more money than other voters, and the more people who vote, the more money there would be in the "democracy" budget, so the candidates would have incentives to go after ALL the people, not just the ones on their current lists (older folks, etc.) 

I think it would stimulate people to talk about for whom they are voting/giving money to. And we need that kind of talk as much as as anything else -- getting people involved and interested in the political candidates and their messages.