Comments on: Americans for Prosperity President: We’re Fair Game, Our Donors Are Not

By: Flash Override

Flash Override — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 23:02:42 +0000

Why don’t we just write a law that only citizens and organizations representing citizens (membership organizations) can contribute?

By: Lydia

Lydia — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 19:09:16 +0000

Noz, that makes absolutely no sense. Each person who owns a share of a corporation gets to vote already, allowing those who own shares to vote again would give them more than a vote each.
And since the top 20% own 85% of all wealth, including stocks, those rich individuals would get many more votes.
We need drastic changes into how our campaigning is paid for. I would love to see any person who won their primary get one set amount, no more or less than their opponent, with no individuals or outside interest groups, whether corporations or unions allowed to make donations or advertise at all.
There could be public debates televised for all to see, and lots of non-partisan fact checking on the candidates and their qualifications.
Then we would have leaders who can think of the big picture, the entire economic health, rather than doing ‘favors’ for specific industries, at the expense of American workers and taxpayers.
The Republicans vote with big corporations’ profits in mind.
The best we can do now is to vote Democratic, since they are the only ones sticking up for the American worker, and small business.
And buy American when you can, the job you save indirectly, may be your own!

By: Dave

Dave — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 14:35:54 +0000

Whatever happened to having people do their own research on issues and find out what positions politicians have and make up their own minds?

By: Noz

Noz — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 11:43:02 +0000

“Voters are trying to elect officials to represent the citizens of that state, not corporations. Corporations aren’t supposed to have a vote.” – Lydia
Excellent point you bring up Lydia.
The law treats corporations as a unique entity.
Of course the federal government taxes them separate from their stock holders.
Perhaps corporations should get a vote otherwise isn’t that taxation without representation? Our founding fathers fought a war over that.
Let’s start a movement to get the right to vote for corporations.
Let’s call it Lydia’s Amendment!

By: Lydia

Lydia — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 06:24:09 +0000

Rick2011, I joined the Target boycott and with good cause, as they had donated to a candidate that had claimed the minimum wage should be repealed. This would directly benefit Target’s profits, while hurting American workers. Voters should know about donations like this.
What if an oil company wants to give a big donation to a candidate that says he wants all regulation of the oil industry to be eliminated, don’t you think voters should know that, too?
Voters are trying to elect officials to represent the citizens of that state, not corporations. Corporations aren’t supposed to have a vote.
Voters are trying to elect officials that will keep the economy healthy for everyone, not just the big players.

By: Lydia

Lydia — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 06:14:31 +0000

Why not make it fair all around and force every donor to disclose, whether it is from an environmental group or a corporate funnel group as ‘Americans for Prosperity’ may well be?
We need to know for sure that industry’s or foreign companies that stand to benefit monetarily from one candidate’s win, are trying to game the system in their favor.
An environmental group’s donations would probably show many people making small donations, whereas one of these new big spending groups probably has a few very wealthy spenders.
Americans deserve to know who really is paying for these expensive ads.

By: Lydia

Lydia — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 05:57:52 +0000

We need a big change in our laws so that anyone contributing to any organization donating money or ads to influence an election, has to disclose who they are.
The oil industry or insurance industry should or foreign company, etc. should not be free to anonymously pay for ads.

By: progressive mama

progressive mama — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 02:11:10 +0000

Maybee, so in your opinion, if you believe some law is applied equally that is all that matters??? If a law is applied equally it is automatically good?
You all have lost your common sense or you’re being highly disingenuous.
Critical thinkers will continue to press for disclosure.
I do understand that rightwingers and Republicans aren’t known for their critical thinking skills.

By: progressive mama

progressive mama — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 02:05:14 +0000

Fair is everyone playing by the same rules. AFP works by the same rules other groups do -
—-
So in your mind everything “legal” and is “right” and everything that applies to everyone equally is good and shouldn’t be protested against or mentioned?
Yowza. Why am I guessing you wouldn’t let anyone hold you to that on every issue?
lol.
I don’t believe anyone is saying its not “fair” in terms of Republicans versus Democrats. Its not fair to voters of all parties and stripes. Its not right. And most Americans are not comfortable with it. Yes, its been polled.
Its interesting (although typical, really) that those who pretend to be in favor of liberty, transparent government, the individual and against special interests and tryanny don’t see it.
When will they see it, Lisa Fay? When the other party of the duopoly is benefitting from anonymous donors? Then will they get it?
Reasonable people ought to get it no matter which party is benefiting.
And reasonable people do.

By: MayBee

MayBee — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 23:38:20 +0000

Oops. Obviously meant “not just accept”