Campaign Finance Reform

[meggiemom]

I understand that campaign finance law is about to be changed to allow unlimited contributions by individuals. Just what we need!

 

[Andy A]

Here is another slant on campaign contributions but first a question. Do you ever contribute to a person's campaign? It cost a lot of money to run for any office these days and that, in itself, is a shame. If individuals were to step up to the plate and contribute something to their person of choice, just maybe those large donors would be nullified to some extent. While this may sound altruistic, it is something to consider.

 

[j p nettles]

Here is another slant on campaign contributions but first a question. Do you ever contribute to a person's campaign? It cost a lot of money to run for any office these days and that, in itself, is a shame. If individuals were to step up to the plate and contribute something to their person of choice, just maybe those large donors would be nullified to some extent. While this may sound altruistic, it is something to consider.

Most of Walton county's elected officials have received thousands from two people. Of course the donors do this by using "companies" and other entities that they control or own so that they can exceed the $500 limit. Frankly, I don't have $1 to throw away on a candidate who has no chance of winning. And I don't vote for anyone who received money from the big dawg donors. And do you trust an elected public education official who received $6000 from a person who was involved in a scheme to use $6 million in public education funds to build a hangar for a Cessna Citation?

 

[Andy A]

To be quite frank, it would appear to me your attitude toward local government is part of the problem, not part of the solution. To deny that there are things done that should not be done would be idiotic but no more so than to say every elected or appointed official is unforgivenly corrupt. If you have a better way to fund our citizen desiring to run, I'd like to hear it. I agree the present way does not work very well, if at all.

 

[mputnal]

Limit individual contributions to a reasonable amount. Limit overall contributions to a reasonable limit. So simple! Now the not so simple. Do away with the two party system and the support they provide a candidate. If this could be accomplished there would be a level playing field and every candidate would be representing you and me instead of a system that is designed to represent the interest of the big donors...

 

[Douglas]

And do you trust an elected public education official who received $6000 from a person who was involved in a scheme to use $6 million in public education funds to build a hangar for a Cessna Citation?

Who would that be? [SARCASM]Wait! Don't tell me! I just love it when people post cryptic accusations of corruption among elected officials and I get to go on a scavenger hunt to find out what they're talking about![/SARCASM]

 

[DaleDalbey]

To be quite frank, it would appear to me your attitude toward local government is part of the problem, not part of the solution. To deny that there are things done that should not be done would be idiotic but no more so than to say every elected or appointed official is unforgivenly corrupt. If you have a better way to fund our citizen desiring to run, I'd like to hear it. I agree the present way does not work very well, if at all.

I agree with you, Andy. People that complain about the system, but then say they would not contribute a $1 to a qualified candidate are just like those that say..."they are all crooks, that's why I don't vote". Complaining on SoWal without getting involved in the process may make someone feel better and morally justified, but it does nothing to help the political process or improve our communities.

 

[sunspotbaby]

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nake...d-on-federal-campaign-finance-violations.html

Panhandle developer Jay Odom, the man whose desire for a new airplane hangar led to the downfall of former House Speaker Ray Sansom, has been indicted on federal campaign finance violations.


Odom, 56, of Destin, surrendered to U.S. Marshals in Pensacola Tuesday morning and was released pending a trial scheduled for March 4 before U.S. District Judge Lacey Collier.


The two count indictment accuses him of laundering $10,000 in personal funds in 2007 to reimburse individual contributions to an unnamed presidential candidate. He faces a maximum sentence of seven years in prison if convicted of making contributions in the names of others and lying to the Feeral Election Commission.


Odom sand several of his corporations have long been a contributor to legislative campaigns and the Florida Republican Party. He frequently provided his private jet for public officials and candidates to travel as well.

 

[j p nettles]

Here's my view. The most I can possibly contribute to a candidate is $500. Why on earth would I do that when, for instance, in 2008, Jay Odom contributed thousands to various candidates in Walton County through various "companies" and other entities? (and there's one other contributor that does the same). I had a very expensive illness that year and have only recently recovered. And since my wife lost her $59,000 per year teaching job it's a challenge to make ends meet. I correctly predicted the winners of Walton County's elections in 2008, 2010 and 2012. And I didn't vote for any incumbents in the last election. Any money that I might have given to political candidates that I supported were given to St. Jude's Childrens Hospital.

 

[mputnal]

The way the system presently works: Large donors gets the ear of the politicians. Smaller donors gets a greeting card.

It is not just the politicians that have been corrupted by this system as the Justice system has never even prosecuted a single ceo of wall street or the banking system for criminal intent in their greedy and fraudulent activities in the mortgage industry. The free market system can not work if both our legislative branch and judicial branch have to admister laws and justice to protect these people.