brodski
Tea-Time toad
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2005
- Messages
- 15,516
In another thread Oliver brought up the issue of political campaign finance in the USA, and how this may lead to “corruption” of the democratic process.
I disagree that the amount of influence that campaigning contributors have amounts to “corruption”
It’s been years since I studied this issue, and not being American I haven’t been keeping up with current debates on this issue, and have forgotten a lot of what I knew.
So who wants to set out the issues for me and Oliver?
It is my understanding that there is no federal funding for political parties in the USA (am I wrong?)
I also understand that there are no limits on what an candidate can spend, however there are limits on how much money individual organisations can directly contribute to a candidates Campaign.
That said, I also understand that there is nothing to stop an organisation from running a separate campaign promoting said candidate, or promoting issues which the candidate supports (the first amendment guarantees that right).
What have I got wrong? Can anyone offer more details on what I have outlined?
I am unsure how party finance links to finance for individual campaigns, I am also unsure how funding primary for primary campaigns relates to funding fro actual election campaigns.
For the sake of simplicity I am only interested in Federal elections. I presume that there are standard federal election finance laws, rather than sate laws, am I wrong?
Do Americans consider that the current system needs reform? How should it be reformed and what problems are there with such reform?
I presume that the first amendment would be a pretty big stumbling block, are there other legal issues?
Who stands to gain from campaign finance reform and who loses? Is there a substantial movement for campaign reform, and will it likely succeed? Who are the big players in this movement?
Thanks in advance, oh and please don't let this turn into an America bashing thread, I come to understand the USA, not bury her in criticism
I disagree that the amount of influence that campaigning contributors have amounts to “corruption”
It’s been years since I studied this issue, and not being American I haven’t been keeping up with current debates on this issue, and have forgotten a lot of what I knew.
So who wants to set out the issues for me and Oliver?
It is my understanding that there is no federal funding for political parties in the USA (am I wrong?)
I also understand that there are no limits on what an candidate can spend, however there are limits on how much money individual organisations can directly contribute to a candidates Campaign.
That said, I also understand that there is nothing to stop an organisation from running a separate campaign promoting said candidate, or promoting issues which the candidate supports (the first amendment guarantees that right).
What have I got wrong? Can anyone offer more details on what I have outlined?
I am unsure how party finance links to finance for individual campaigns, I am also unsure how funding primary for primary campaigns relates to funding fro actual election campaigns.
For the sake of simplicity I am only interested in Federal elections. I presume that there are standard federal election finance laws, rather than sate laws, am I wrong?
Do Americans consider that the current system needs reform? How should it be reformed and what problems are there with such reform?
I presume that the first amendment would be a pretty big stumbling block, are there other legal issues?
Who stands to gain from campaign finance reform and who loses? Is there a substantial movement for campaign reform, and will it likely succeed? Who are the big players in this movement?
Thanks in advance, oh and please don't let this turn into an America bashing thread, I come to understand the USA, not bury her in criticism