Choose Three

[James W. Thompson <Jthompso@bp.as.ua.edu>]

I feel that there should be strong regulations on all gifts to candidates for public office.  All funding and other gifts should be recorded and reported.  This seems the only manner in which disclosure can act as a deterant to shady political deals.  There is something to be said for leveling the playing field for those who don't have the funds that say, a major party can provide.  Perhaps free advertising on public TV or radio could help third party candidates to get their message out.  There would need to be criteria established to identify legitimate candidates.  Campaign funding will never be placed in a perfect framwork.  Certainly, candidates need funds to run for office, but they need to be regulated to the point that the public feels confortable that shady deals are not an element of the political process.  

Jimmy Thompson