Work with congress to get private money out of politics. Or, put spend limits on campaigning. Ultimately, we NEED to ensure politicians work for the people and not corporations.
I’ve thought about making sure voting stations have access to candidate information. Things like voting records, sponsored bills (even if they don’t pass), what they are running on, etc. Having this information available to voters through publicly funded websites could statically reduce how ugly the political season is. Give people the facts instead of listening to months of smear campaigns, which is the equivalent of fake news.
I use ballotpedia for a lot of election research. As much as I think that voters should be as informed as possible, waiting until you get to the voting location is not the best way to run it. You’d need to have many computers available for people to sit down at and look up information, which costs money. You’d end up with much longer lines, which would discourage people from showing up.
Great feedback. I don’t know what the solution is but i know if you take money out of politics, you have other problems to solve. Like how do you educate voters. I also think you don’t want people privately having to put up money because then only the wealthy can campaign.
Citizens United has turned State & Local taxpayer funded pensions into dark money pay to play schemes. Pensions have loaded up on no-bid contracts on Private Equity and Hedge Fund investments paying $billions in excessive fees for taxpayers. Wall Street then makes secret dark money donations in the millions to Super Pacs controlled by Governors, Mayors, Attorney General, Legislative, and Unions.
Spend limits on campaigns would completely shift the level of influence money has on our elections. Big Donors run this country and the founders didn’t want that.
The outsized role of money in politics has eroded public trust, distorted policymaking, and undermined the principles of democracy. This proposal aims to reduce the influence of wealthy interests, enforce transparency, and restore accountability in government. Key initiatives include campaign finance and lobbying reform, stricter government transparency, civic education, and protections against government-funded propaganda. By shifting power back to citizens and away from financial elites, this proposal envisions an America where the government reflects the will of the people and fosters a high-trust society rooted in Constitutional rights and civil liberties.
Ideal Steps to Remove Money from Politics
To effectively remove money from politics, a combination of immediate actions, legislative changes, and long-term constitutional amendments is required. Here’s a step-by-step plan to accomplish this:
Step 1: Campaign Finance Reform
Repeal or Overturn Citizens United (2010) and McCutcheon v. FEC (2014) Decisions
Citizens United allowed unlimited independent expenditures by corporations and unions, asserting that money is a form of free speech.
McCutcheon v. FEC struck down aggregate limits on individual contributions, allowing wealthy individuals to fund multiple candidates and parties.
Action: This can be achieved either through a constitutional amendment that clarifies that money is not equivalent to speech or by passing a law that directly challenges these decisions, which could eventually be tested in the Supreme Court.
Amend the Constitution to Limit Political Contributions and Spending
Pass a 28th Amendment specifying that money is not speech, and corporations are not people, thereby allowing Congress and states to regulate political spending without violating First Amendment rights.
Define clear contribution limits, banning corporate donations entirely and limiting individual donations to promote a more equitable democratic process.
Implement Publicly Funded Elections
Small-Dollar Matching Programs: Match small donations with public funds (e.g., a 6-to-1 or 9-to-1 match) to amplify the influence of everyday citizens.
Voucher Systems: Give each citizen a set amount (like $100 in “Democracy Dollars”) they can contribute to candidates, encouraging a broader base of small donors.
Result: This would reduce candidates’ dependence on big donors and corporations, allowing them to focus on constituents’ needs.
Eliminate Super PACs and Dark Money
Ban Super PACs, which are currently allowed to spend unlimited amounts of money on political campaigns due to Citizens United.
Pass legislation to prohibit dark money—funds from undisclosed sources—by requiring all political organizations to disclose their donors and expenditures in real-time.
Action: This would require a law mandating transparency and redefining political groups’ status to ensure all election spending is public and traceable.
Step 2: Lobbying and Ethics Reform
Restrict Lobbying Activities and Increase Transparency
Impose stricter limits on how much special interest groups can spend on lobbying and make all lobbying activities public, including the amounts spent and issues lobbied.
Enforce a “cooling-off” period of 5-10 years before former government officials can work as lobbyists or join corporate boards.
Ban “Revolving Door” Politics
Prohibit high-ranking officials, particularly in Congress, from accepting positions in industries they oversaw for at least five years after leaving office.
Require transparency in interactions between government officials and lobbyists, with penalties for violations.
Establish an Independent Oversight Body
Create an independent agency responsible for monitoring campaign finance, lobbying activities, and government ethics. This agency should have the authority to investigate, penalize, and publicly disclose cases of corruption or violations.
Implement mandatory ethics training for all public officials on transparency, lobbying laws, and campaign finance rules.
Step 3: Government Transparency and Accountability
Mandate Full Disclosure of Campaign Contributions and Lobbyist Activities
Establish a real-time, publicly accessible database of all campaign donations and lobbying activities, showing amounts, sources, and recipients.
Require that this database be updated frequently, easily searchable, and accessible to the public.
Ban Government-Funded Propaganda
Pass laws prohibiting the use of taxpayer funds for any government-produced media that serves partisan purposes, except for public information campaigns on nonpartisan issues.
Strengthen whistleblower protections to safeguard those who report misuse of government funds for propaganda.
Strengthen Civic Education Programs
Implement programs that teach citizens, starting at a young age, about their rights, the political process, and how to engage effectively. An informed populace is better equipped to advocate for reforms and recognize corruption.
Implementation Path
Start Locally and Build Momentum
Begin implementing campaign finance and lobbying reforms at local and state levels. Cities and states can pass ordinances for publicly funded elections, contribution limits, and transparency requirements.
Successful models from cities like Seattle (which has implemented “Democracy Dollars”) can serve as blueprints and inspire broader adoption.
Push for Federal Legislation
Support candidates and leaders who prioritize campaign finance reform, and push for legislation at the federal level to enact stricter lobbying rules, contribution caps, and transparency laws.
Utilize public advocacy campaigns to raise awareness and put pressure on Congress to pass comprehensive reform bills like the For the People Act or similar bills focused on campaign finance reform.
Campaign for a Constitutional Amendment
Launch a national campaign to build support for a 28th Amendment clarifying that money is not speech. This will require a coalition of citizens, advocacy groups, and lawmakers from both parties.
Collect petitions, organize events, and work with reform organizations to build momentum for this amendment.
Engage the Public Through Grassroots Movements
Leverage social media, public forums, and community groups to educate and involve citizens in advocating for money-out-of-politics initiatives.
Partner with nonpartisan organizations and transparency advocacy groups like Common Cause, Public Citizen, and the Sunlight Foundation to expand reach and mobilize supporters.
Strategic Litigation and Judicial Action
File lawsuits to challenge campaign finance loopholes, dark money groups, and lobbying practices, aiming for legal precedents that favor transparency and accountability.
Work with public interest law firms to bring cases that may eventually reach the Supreme Court, challenging interpretations of “money as speech.”
Promote Citizen Watchdog and Accountability Programs
Create local watchdog groups that monitor political spending, lobbying, and ethical violations. These groups could publish annual “scorecards” or reports on public officials’ adherence to transparency and finance laws.
Use technology to allow citizens to crowdsource reports of political and lobbying abuses, empowering them to participate in holding officials accountable.
What Needs to Be Amended or Repealed
Amendment to Overturn Citizens United: A constitutional amendment is necessary to directly counter the effects of the Citizens United ruling, which equated corporate spending with free speech.
Repeal the McCutcheon v. FEC Decision: Repealing or amending campaign finance laws to reinstate aggregate limits on individual contributions would reduce the influence of ultra-wealthy donors.
Amend the Lobbying Disclosure Act: Strengthen the requirements of the 1995 Lobbying Disclosure Act to mandate more comprehensive reporting and reduce conflicts of interest.
Pass a 28th Amendment: Clarify that political spending is not protected speech under the First Amendment, and that regulation of contributions is not only permissible but necessary to protect democratic integrity.
Conclusion
This proposal provides a robust roadmap for removing money from politics and restoring democratic integrity. By starting with local reforms, advocating for federal change, and ultimately pursuing a constitutional amendment, we can create a fairer, more representative political system. This approach will strengthen transparency, diminish the power of wealthy interests, and return power to citizens, setting the foundation for a more accountable, high-trust society.