John Edwards Campaign Highlights Problem With Public Funding

     John Edwards' presidential campaign has been asked to pay back over $2 million that was given to it by the Federal Elections Commission.  Does the now four year-old campaign even have any money left?  John Edwards' situation shows a huge problem with public financing of campaigns.  Take the Edwards' problem.  Add the fact that those in power control who gets public funding.  Throw in a little bit of campaign finance laws like McCain-Feingold.  Now you have a poison that kills democracy and makes sure that incumbents and/or their associates stay in power.

     In the case of John Edwards, if he wants to spend private donations for hair cuts or mistresses, it's nobody's business but his and his donors.  If Edwards misuses public money as part of the campaign process, it becomes a problem for everyone.  

     People say that private companies use campaign funds to "buy" politicians.  Don't public funds do the same?  I think that I would rather have a candidate that was "bought" by General Electric than by the Republican and Democratic national committees.  

     Campaign finance reform is set up by Republicans and Democrats to make sure that people of whom they don't approve cannot run realistic campaigns.  The person down the street cannot use their own money, or that of friends and neighbors to start a political party or run for office.  The incumbent can spend $billions of  OUR money to put their name on buildings, airports and pork projects.  They also use OUR money to send us annoying letters and post cards that tell us what a wonderful job they are doing.  Public funding of campaigns and campaign finance reform destroy representative government as we know it.

        The presidential campaign to receive federal matching funds in 2012 was the campaign of Buddy Roemer for President.  According to the Buddy Roemer web site, he is a long shot candidate for the Republican nomination who has not participated in any debates or done any campaigning.  In February, Buddy received his first installment of $100,000.  As a Conscious Conservative, I believe that is a waste of taxpayers money.    

Time for A Change? Do Tea Party Politics Make A Difference

Much has been made about "Tea Party" candidates winning in the recent election.  I have more questions than answers when I ponder whether or not these candidates can move the government in a Conscious Conservative direction.  Is the system so broken that these people couldn't change it if they wanted?  Are these newly elected persons incredibly outnumbered?  Will candidates stay true to their values once in office?  There are many more questions.  I think there is one key question.  Are the "Tea Party" newly elected officials conservative and are they Conscious Conservatives?  I will examine this question in my next few posts by examining the political stances that these people made during the election.

I will start with Nikki Haley, Governor-Elect of South Carolina

Stated Stances (from her web site)

Cap Government Spending                                            Conscious Conservative

Term Limits                                                                   Liberal/Socialist

Tough Immigration Laws                                               Unconscious Conservative

Equalize Education Funding                                           Liberal/Socialist

Expand Charter Schools                                                Unconscious Conservative

Protect 2nd Amendment Rights                                     Conscious Conservative

As you can see, Nikki Haley appears to be an Unconscious Conservative with as many liberal leanings as Conscious Conservative positions.  Do you think that she will make a difference in politics as usual?