Outrageous: Dialing for Dollars

Why should hundreds of millions our tax dollars be poured into their campaigns? Time for better ways of solving such problems. We need methods that are automatically self-limiting. Here's a few toss-offs just to get the ball rolling: 1) Let's require them to pony up one dollar to each of their opponents for every dollar that feeds their own campaign fund. 2) Allow them to spend only what their opponents raise.

If we are going to give politicians massive amounts of taxpayer provided money for their re-election campaigns, it must be performance based. For every $1M they reduce government SPENDING, they get $1K in funds - save $1B of citizens' money, get $1M in funding. No smoke and mirrors, this needs to be an honest reduction in spending, no passing costs to the next generation. If more than one congressperson submits a reduction bill, they split the re-election funding.

I agree that the costs of campaigning are outrageous. Equally outrageous is your suggestion that we foot the bill for it! We can reduce costs if we force campaigns to be shorter...politicians should not be allowed to declare for a race before July 4th of an election year. Less cost, less wasted time, less voter apathy, less negative campaigning, end the 'earliest primary' race. With our rapid information network, we can do this.

It has often been said thatwe have the best politicians money can buy! THe Congressional watchdogs over the finance community were all beholden to Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac by huge contributions -- Chris Dodd, Barney Frank, etc. -- They should be grilled like the auto execs.

Excellent piece. It is outrageous, and our private campaign finance system certainly costs us in numerous ways. Those looking to help be part of the solution should also check out http://youstreet.org.