Regarding the need for campaign finance reform I have one starting question:
How much does money affect election results?
My initial belief is that once a candidate has enough money, having more is of little consequence. Once I am aware of a candidate (local, state, national) and I know their positions, my vote has never been influenced by an ad or other marketing materials. I am aware of many situations where the candidate with the most money or the best marketing campaign did not win - so I wonder are we trying to fix something that is not a problem? If so, why? I suspect the real goal is for those currently in power to establish rules that will make it increasingly difficult for people "outside" the system to gain political power rather than opposite being true.
---------- Post added at 04:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:53 PM ----------
Quote:
Originally Posted by Willravel
TBH, I kinda hope this thing with Clarence Thomas (breaking ethics law requiring federal employees to disclose their spouse’s income and employers and the massive conflict of interest with Citizens United) ends with him retiring. Never asking questions is one thing, but he clearly isn't an objective jurist and America is suffering in part because of his inability to divorce himself from his politics.
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How far would you go with an alleged conflict of interest based on an association? Significant others? Life partners? Parents? Children? Mistresses? Hunting buddies? College roommates?
Thinking of my marriage, my wife is an independent thinker and that is the basis of our relationship. I don't control her political activities and she doesn't control mine. In your view, would a conflict she has automatically be mine? Why? And if so, why would my relationship with her be different than relationships I have with others?