Editor: In the name of full disclosure, I have a weekly column with the Daily Press, “Laughing Matters.” (How quickly they forget?) I’m writing because I’ve already submitted my column for the week and next week will be too late. This is about the upcoming City Council meeting, Tuesday night, Feb. 27. The subject will be local campaign reform.
This past November, I was appalled at the parts money and dirty campaigning played nationally, and even here in Santa Monica. ($500,000 was spent in efforts to defeat one council member alone!) They're already predicting the 2008 presidential campaign may cost a billion dollars! In the bad old days, candidates were hand-picked in smoke-filled rooms. Now they’re picked by corporations. I don’t see much of a difference.
I haven't done much research, but it just seems to me the only solution to avoid the increased power of special interests is public financing of all elections. And maybe it needs to start on the local level? Go to the council meeting, or listen on radio, or watch on City TV, or tell your friends, or write a letter to an editor... or do all of the above.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 26, 2007. Read the original PDF.