The Fallacy of Campaign Finance ReformAt first glance, campaign finance reform looks like a good idea. McCain-Feingold, for instance, regulates campaigns by prohibiting national political parties from accepting soft money contributions from corporations, labor unions, and wealthy individuals. But are such measures, or any of the numerous and similarly restrictive proposals that have circulated through Washington in recent years, really good for our democracy? |
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... Modern Campaign Finance Law 189 chapter 8. McCain-Feingold and the Market for Incumbent Protection 233 chapter 9. A Liberalizing Agenda 255 Notes 293 Index 363 Preface The struggle to restrict money's influence in politics and Contents.
... equalizing wealth . Beyond that fantasy lies a harder reality : campaign finance laws tend to advance the interests of those who write them , namely , incumbent legisla- tors. But I, too, am an idealist. Like Machiavelli, I Preface.
... incumbent public of- ficials, have a strong interest in suppressing alternative views so that their own may be more prominent and more influential. That interest is well served by restrictions on spending on political advertising ...
... Incumbents have an interest in retaining their office and thus in less competition for their seat. Their interests run counter to the general interest of voters. The Madisonian and the Progressive visions frame the debate about campaign ...
... incumbents , we should expect that any party with a majority will be tempted to pass such regulations . As Bradley ... Incumbent Interests Amid all the paeans to democracy and the public interest in the Senate debates about McCain ...
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Compound Democracies: Why the United States and Europe Are Becoming Similar Sergio Fabbrini No preview available - 2007 |
Small Change: Money, Political Parties, and Campaign Finance Reform Raymond J. La Raja Limited preview - 2008 |