A Great President and Campaign Finance Reform

Speaking of the role of money in Presidential campaigns today, let's examine a quote from a monumentally great American President:

"I again recommend a law prohibiting all corporations from contributing to the
campaign expenses of any party. Such a bill has already past one House of
Congress. Let individuals contribute as they desire; but let us prohibit in
effective fashion all corporations from making contributions for any political
purpose, directly or indirectly."

It's a simple rule. Could it work?

Or have we all resigned ourselves to a government of the CEOs, by the CEOs, for the CEOs?

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Flat Tax, Isn't it Time?

Tax filing time is finally over! But how painful was it? How many people went crossed-eyed trying to read complex and confusing tax instructions? What is up with Alternative Minimum Tax worksheets for all? How many people had to deal with tax preparation software that had problems with installation, or problems filing tax returns electronically? How many people are positive they did everything 100% correctly?

It's time to scrap the tax code! It is beyond shameful.

We need a simple flat tax now. A relatively low (say 10%) flat tax on all types of income. A flat tax for individuals, corporations, and all entities that tax evaders might hide behind. No deductions. No write-offs. No tax shelters. No loopholes. No exceptions. It can be written on a single sheet of paper. The time is now.

It is very likely that government revenue from taxes would increase, due to greater compliance with a simple, low rate plan, and due to the fact that the massive loop-holes would be closed. Let's do the right thing.

Flat Tax now!

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Presidential Selection by Piggy Bank

Let us assume for an instant that most Americans believe that money should not play a role in elections. That in a perfect democracy, the issues and the candidates will be the deciding factors. Previous outrage over campaign fundraising, the McCain-Feingold Act, and proposals of government funding for campaigns stand as evidence that the desired intent is to limit the role of money in elections.

But what is the current reality?

For the last several weeks, the mainstream media has reported about nothing but the amounts of money the favored Presidential candidates have raised. They have portrayed the election as nothing but a money gathering exercise, with the election obviously going to the highest bidder. The election is over before it has begun, decided by money.

The media limits the number of candidates they will discuss or acknowledge, and then talk about the only issue that seems to be important, the amount of money in each candidate’s campaign fund.

To add insult to injury, the mainstream media provides 24x7 coverage to the candidates with the most money. These candidates already have all of the money, so why provide them with continuous free advertising?

The Solution

If we agree that campaign financing is an issue, and that money should not play such a big role, we all need to foster that idea. New laws won't help. We need help from the media.

We should give time to all Presidential Candidates. And let's give some time to candidates from parties other than the Democrats and Republicans. And even within the major parties, let's not dismiss the lesser financed candidates. It's a novel concept, but it would be more in line with the spirit of Democracy, and the principals our government was founded upon.

If we want money to be the only deciding factor in elections, we can continue talking about nothing but the money.

But if we truly want more diverse or innovative ideas, we must open the door to more candidates, and stop obsessing about the size of campaign piggy banks.

Let the bidding begin!

Recent headlines have overwhelmed us with the news that the annual quota of H1-B visas were reserved in one day. This was cause for celebration by the US Chamber of Commerce, Bill Gates, and the entire "cheap labor" propaganda machine. They say that it is proof that we need unlimited immigration of cheap laborers into the US.

These people claim to be Capitalists, and with that in mind, there is an obvious solution to the current H1-B issue: Let the market decide who gets the H1-B visas. Auction off the annual quota to the highest bidders. Do this four times a year to spread it out. How could you be more market oriented than that?

They claim that they can't hire the "best and brightest". An auction would certainly allow them to prioritize that vague requirement. If they have candidates that they can't do business without, they will bid to get a visa for that person. It's simple supply and demand. It's true Capitalism.

Of course those in search of cheap labor don't want real Capitalism. They only want it when it is convenient to them. They are more than happy to pretend that they are standing in a Communist bread line, and claim "we couldn't get our fair helping of free cheap labor".

The Heart of the Matter

Any desirable product that is given away for free in limited quantities (like the visas) will have too much demand. If the US Government offered 65,000 free Plasma TVs to the public, how many days would it take for that quota to be taken? The line would be longer, and go faster than the H1-B visas!

But who deserves free Plasma TVs from the government? No one, and certainly not Bill Gates. He can afford to pay for his own Plasma TVs, just like he can afford to pay for his so called "indispensable" best and brightest foreign workers.

Let the free, competitive market decide.