RE: Choice #2 E Questions

[Susan Taylor <mstaylor@mindspring.com>]

I think that citizens having the ability to get intiatives on the ballot and recall elected officials is an important part of campaign finance reform, and I agree with Karyn that special interest groups and "others" will find a way to make a system work for them and their interests and issues.

My question for us to consider revolves around lack of citizen participation in the campaign and voting process.  Many of the responses to choice one lamented that people are not volunteering their time for campaigns--instead candidates hire campaign managers.  Citizens are apathetic and frustrated and just give up and do not participate in voting or volunteering for campaign work or just even becoming informed about the issues and the candidates.

According to the issue book, "Approximately 10 percent of Americans contribute time or money to political campaigns.  Essentially this has been the pattern of American history, but the amount of money involved today has set off alarms."  

Why are only 10 percent of Americans contributing time or money to political campaigns?  I propose that we, the ones participating in this discussion, are part of that 10 percent.  We are the ones alarmed at the amount of money being spent on campaigning and we are the 10 percent that will make a difference.  We are part of the 10 percent that will "drive this train" and determine where campaign finance reform goes and doesn't go if we truly believe that we can make a difference.