CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM

Recently the Kodiak Daily Mirror had a letter from a grass-roots campaign suggesting that political campaigns be financed by the government. There have been many calls for reform over the years because the amount of money to run for office has become so large that only well funded candidates have any chance of getting their messages heard. It is also believed that the big money leads to political corruption.

The Kodiak Perspective is leery of turning over political money management completely to the government, there is already a check box on the IRS form 1040. This power has the potential for the government to hand select who will be able to mount a campaign. A dangerous thought! Should the government decide who can run?

Political fund-raising is one way to measure the ground swell of support, look at the fund raising efforts of Doctor Ron Paul, someone written off as having no chance, but his message seems to be very popular, even more so than some of the first tier candidates.

With the media largely ignoring these campaigns, funding of a candidate is the best way for people to show support and get the message out.

The problem may not be campaign finances, but rather coverage by the press, who largely dictate who’s name is before the public. With so many media outlets, it is a shame that only front runners get the coverage.

The recent popularity of Mike Huckabee is a good example, largely written off, he has only recently gotten air time after a surge in the polls.

While campaign finance may be part of the political problems in this country, it is not the only problem. Turning to purse strings over to the government, and creating another layer of bureaucracy, doesn’t sound like a good solution. Nice try, but let’s give it some more thought.