pudge's Journal: Third-Party Candidates Considered Harmful

Hat tip to eglamkowski.

HR 4694 (yes, sponsored only by Democrats, including prominent ones like Frank and Waxman) would cap spending on political campaigns: major party candidates can spend a maximum amount of money, and no more. That in itself is not necessarily a big deal; honest people with integrity have disagreement about it.

But it also says that third-party and independent candidates can only spend a percentage of that cap, based on how much of the vote they got the previous time.

The ratio itself makes no sense on its own: the major party candidates' caps are not based on their percentage of the previous vote. But the real point is that this could not be more un-democratic. You don't give special privileges in elections to certain people or parties. You give everyone the same opportunities, so the people can have a real choice.

Anything less is simply wrong in a democracy. That applies to spending caps, as well as to debate participation.

They call the bill the "Let the People Decide Clean Campaign Act." That's the best example of Orwellian doublespeak I've seen in a long time. A better title would be "The Independent Exclusion and Incumbent Protection Act."

Sadly - its how the Voting System works

[SiliconJesus]

I was sent a mail from the Maryland Department of Elections about 2 years ago, telling me that the Libertarian Party didn't get enough votes, and that I'd have to reregister with a larger party or do a write in party. I wrote in Libertarian and that's how I'm registered to this day.

I think all parties should have an equal say in the political process. The two party system is hurting America more than it helps. Greens, Libertarians and other marginalized parties need to mobilize their base and get the law

Re:Sadly - its how the Voting System works

[pudge]

I was sent a mail from the Maryland Department of Elections about 2 years ago, telling me that the Libertarian Party didn't get enough votes, and that I'd have to reregister with a larger party or do a write in party. I wrote in Libertarian and that's how I'm registered to this day.

That is different. How you are registered has no effect on whom you get to vote for, or how limited those people are in how they are allowed to campaign for your vote. I don't know about MD, but usually, that simply has to do w

But they are harmful...

[eglamkowski]

to the democrats and republicans...

It's just a matter of perspective!

This sounds like Canada.

[rholliday]

I believe that the Canadian government funds different parties' campaigns based on the percentage of the legislature they receive. I'm too lazy to look anything up to verify I have it correctly, though.

For the record, I think it's a silly system there and a silly system here.