Comments on: Just because you're paranoid . . . .

By: Dan S.

Dan S. — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 02:05:33 +0000

RE: "Public funding of all federal campaigns is the answer."

Why stop at federal campaigns? EVERY election campaign for a public office should be funded from a pool of ALL donations for that race. Let individuals, PACs, SIGs, etc. donate whatever sum they want to the pool. The candidates could split the pot evenly and let the voters decide based on the quality of the evenly funded media blitzes.

By: The Reverend

The Reverend — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 23:50:07 +0000

Public funding of all federal campaigns is the answer.

No one in the D.C Village wants to hear the question. And so, it's never heard.

By: N. E. Frye

N. E. Frye — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 18:28:17 +0000

But as to your stated suspicion that corporations are pulling the strings of govt., It's hard to imagine anyone doubting that anymore. Although Reagan endeared himself to me before being sworn in and immediately after by putting Iran on notice (something Jimmy Carter was too sweet to do) , it was also Reagan who applied laissez faire to the whole shebang including banks and insurance, with the result that financial conglomerates came to be in essence bigger than the government. This was an example of applying doctrine instead of gray matter. Doctrine will always run into a brick wall at some point.

By: N. E. Frye

N. E. Frye — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:51:09 +0000

Might be on to something; on the other hand unsuccessful corporations probably wouldn't have much $$ to give. Is it clear from this that they donate and then get rich?

By: Dan S.

Dan S. — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 01:24:22 +0000

RE: "We find that the number of supported candidates has a statistically significant positive relation with future abnormal returns for firms which contribute to political candidates. . . . [T]he contribution effect appears to increase for firms that have longer relationships with candidates, support more home candidates, and support more powerful candidates."

Gee, what a revelation. And all this time I thought corporations financed, wined, dined, and lobbied the pols just because they were a bunch of nice folks who wanted to make a hard working public servant feel appreciated.

I hope this research was funded with my lower middle class tax dollars so I can feel good about contributing to the greater good of the world of knowledge.