Final Comments

[Nina Powers <npowers@Home.com>]

Greetings, my thoughts on Money and Politics;

 The influence of money in the political process today cannot be denied. There are voices in the Senate and the media that speak against the passage of the McCain/Feingold Bill. That speech is protected by our First Amendment. Placing caps on the amount of soft money donated to politicians is not protected by our First Amendment.

 Money does not equal free speech. The line of thought that purports limiting monetary political contributions is limiting free speech supports that those that donate money are heard over those that do not. Unlimited soft money donations do not allow equal protection, money actually restricts my voice from being heard.

 I liked the posting on changing the process we use to vote. There are barriers now that do not encourage citizens to participate in elections, whether it the ability to cast a vote, or the ability to run as a candidate against the two parties. There are those that will argue that two is a choice. I support the idea that the Presidential Election voting day should be a National Holiday, it should be given that recognition of importance. I also support that voting hours be extended to all day long. The present hours that polling precincts are open to cast your vote place hardships on working people. It is difficult for parents that have children to gather and care for before and after they report to work to get to their polling place now.

 I support the McCain/Feingold Bill. The link that follows is to a thoughtful speech delivered on the Senate floor, "Are we a Republic of the People?":

  http://www.senate.gov/~lieberman/press/01/03/reform.html