[Industrialblog,
August 26, 2004]
Campaign Finance
Why not just go back to anyone can pay for any ads they like, and anyone can donate any amount of money they want, as long as all donations are public?
Just a thought. I thought that the Constitution protected political speech. But money isn't speech, right?
Just a thought. I thought that the Constitution protected political speech. But money isn't speech, right?
As I understand it, what is being restricted is what government-created organizations (i.e. corporations) can do, not what private citizens can do.
If you recall, for example, 527 is an IRS designation for a type of non-profit organization. The DNS and RNC are, as far as I'm aware, non-profit corporations.
Individuals can do whatever they want, subject to the normal rules for individuals. If you want to donate money to George Bush himself, so far as I know you're free to do that as much as you want, and in private. He'll just have to pay income tax on it.
Note: I might be mistaken here, but what I think we're seeing is restrictions being placed in exchange for special priveleges, not restrictions being placed on everyone.
Still, I think that you're right that a general as much money etc. so long as it's all public is the right way to go.