Quote Originally Posted by Lion View Post
With the expense of a campaign, corporations often donate to both sides. Lobbyists with their fat wallets need to simply write a campaign donation check to ensure a favourable vote.

I was shocked when I read the number that is spent on campaigns each year. How is it possible that it can go in the billions?!? I mean you could enact a law limiting the amount spent on a campaign, but then what about private groups that want to support a particular candidate (Swift boat, moveon.org)?

I think the problem has more to do with backroom deals with large donors.
I wonder if we couldn't require that ALL donations to political organizations be pooled into a common fund, with each candidate dipping from the same pool. You eliminate the lobbyists and you minimize the corporate influences on politicians. The potential for bribery goes up, but it would obviously be illegal, with both the receiver and briber being liable for criminal penalties. As things are now, corporations give their candidates boatloads of money for reelection, but it isn't considered a bribe, even though that is in fact what it amounts to.