Money is Poison to the Political Process

By Alex Easton-Brown

This race shows what's wrong with politics

The state of Vermont, facing the same issues of fund-raising and corruption, recently imposed a spending limit of $2500 per legislative candidate. So, instead of chasing voters with floods of junk mail, tv ads and yard signs, the voters are invited to visit the issues through relatively thoughtful free media coverage. The voters do not like to be constantly advertised to and screamed at. That sort of thing keeps people from wanting to vote.

There are real problems that need to be addressed--Such as working families who are barely able to make ends meet because corporate interests pay so little taxes that the state is unable to provide essential services, adequate education or health care. --Such as the young people who are kept from taking their places as adults in our society or start their own households due to dismal job prospects and depressed wages and student loan debt.
If elected, I propose to curtail the power of the special interests in Sacramento by putting up a firewall between the lobbyists and the legislators and their staff: No more campaign contributions, free lunches and ski trips. No more private meetings and secret pacts. If lobbyists want to be heard, let them do it in writing which is then published on the internet, or in committee meetings like the rest of us. Transparency requires that we put a stop to `ghost voting', changing ones' vote once the bill has been voted on, or taking a walk to avoid a vote. We need to elect someone who will represent us, not another patsy for big business or developers.
Our list of needs is long, but doable: