Quote from: u9y42 on December 21, 2014, 10:13:25 AM

Quote from: malaimult on December 21, 2014, 07:17:53 AM

Quote from: u9y42 on December 21, 2014, 01:27:52 AM

In relation to political finance, there are several countries that have considerable amounts of public financing, in one or more of the forms it takes - Germany, Japan, Sweden, Israel possibly with the highest levels. Is there any reason why the US would not be able to function in such a model?

This puts ideas on too equal of a footing. If someone has a crazy left idea that no one is taking seriously under this model, the left would be able to present their idea to the public as of many people agreed with the idea enough so that they can advertise it's so called benefits that do not really exist

As opposed to the crazy right ideas that pass by unchallenged in the current system? Tongue

At any rate, as I said above, there are several methods of implementing public financing: some more receptive to crazy new ideas, some more conservative. And by the way, this isn't all or nothing: most countries allow some amount of private financing alongside public funding - though within limits, and all at a far less insane level than in the US.

There are moderate limits as to how much each person can give to individual campaigns. This prevents people from using their money to give undue influence on candidates. People can give much more money to more broader issues but these funds to not affect individual officials as much and as a result will not have influence on them.

The vast majority of people can afford to give an "average" amount to a candidate they support and have their voice be heard