We can probably make a huge improvement in politics by taking the politicians out of it. By that, I mean political office should be a temporary position held by a citizen, not a career path. We should assign each political position a flat $40,000/yr salary, an amount that encourages the elected to
serve their constituents rather than be served by them. Set term limits so that everybody must return to their primary civilian occupations. Reduce the financial and ego motivations out of political office, and you attract people passionate about serving, rather than fame and fortune.
We're not serious about political reform because we think money is the root of all evil instead of seeing that human self-interest is the root of all evil.
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Originally Posted by UFO
You can start by returning to pre-Citizen's United. That is quite possibly the worst SC decision in recent history. In fact seeing what it has done to our political system, I bet Justice Kennedy would rule differently in that case now.
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Yeah, I'm still conflicted there. I'd really rather corporations not get financially involved in politics. However, a corporation must serve it's own interest, just as an individual serves their own interest. To that end, political contributions are an investment into the interest of the business. Business then needs to weigh the predicted benefit of political contributions to the risk of alienating their customers.
People generally just don't care what a business does as long as they get their products as easily and cheaply as possible. In that sense, the public interest is served in that they are disinterested. In other words, we deserve the outcomes that we allow to happen.
If business contributions are made illegal, than personal contributions must also be made illegal. Then there is a muddy area where people can promote the candidates they like most in a way that isn't considered a financial contribution at all.
The Obama painting comes to mind. It was very cool, and I'm sure very profitable.
Is that a financial contribution? If a corporation had commissioned the painting would that have been a financial contribution from a corporation?
Bad ideas must be fought with better ideas, not with censorship.