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The Health of Our Democracy:Money in Politics

THE DIFFICULT TASK BEFORE US

Getting people excited about Campaign Finance Reform

Objectives For The Night

• Think about why democracy is so important to us

• Learn about and Discuss the Issue of Money in Politics and how it affects our democracy

• Become informed about the ways we can help ensure the health of our democracy

The Presenters’ Objectives for the Night

• Convince you that this is an organization that is worth your time and effort. Convince you that this organization can truly make a difference.

• Make tonight more exciting than a lecture. That’s why our next activity is democratic charades…jk.

Who We Are

Democracy Matters (GAC Chapter) is a non-partisan, student organization dedicated to the health of American democracy on all levels of government. The local GAC chapter is part of a much larger and growing student movement all across the United States. Currently our primary focus is money in politics, especially, when it comes to the influence of money in our elections. Because of our concerns we advocate Fair and Clean Election reforms such as the ones found in Arizona, Maine, and North Carolina. These reforms make public funding available for serious candidates to run on thus taking the influence of private donors out of the picture. Our conviction for this cause stems both from our belief in a democratic system and also in our belief that FACE reform makes other important reforms possible.

INTRODUCE YOURSELF

History

• Founded by Professional Basketball player - Adonal Foyle. He is a center for the Golden States Warriors.

• “Real democracy on the other hand has to allow everyone an equal opportunity to influence political decisions, regardless of your race, gender or sexual preference, and regardless of your wealth.” Adonal Foyle

• Over 60 Chapters around the country.• Fairly New to Gustavus.

Theme Quote:

“Cleanly financed elections that bring more citizens into the political process as candidates, donors, and organizers are vital to maintaining the health of American democracy.”

- New York Times Editorial

Opening Questions

What does a healthy democracy look like?

And why exactly is democracy important to you?

5 minute brainstorm

Some Famous Definitions

Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote! --Benjamin Franklin

If liberty and equality, as is thought by some are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be best attained when all persons alike share in the government to the utmost. - Aristotle

I swear to the Lord, I still can't see, Why Democracy means, Everybody but me. - Langston Hughes

Democracy is a way of Life.- John Dewey

Arguably the Most Famous Definition

It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

 

- Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address (1863)

Does America Truly Reach This Ideal?

We don’t think so.

But we also think we can help change that.

The Problem

Money In Politics

Symptoms of our Democracy’s Sickness

• Declining voter rates• Apathy and Cynicism about affecting political

decisions (this is especially prevalent amongst young people)

• The number of uncontested and non-competitive elections have grown.

• Bright and ambitious people less often want to spend their lives in politics and government service

Pointing Out the Disease

• Campaign spending is out of control. • Nearly 530 million dollars were spent in the last

presidential election

• Politicians spend more time talking to donors than to voters.

• It is reported that most politicians spend nearly 50 percent of their time fundraising.

Sources: opensecrets.org, democracymatters.org

• Because donors are more important to a politicians success they are prone to be more accountable to a donor’s interests than to their constituents

• Good people can’t run for office without relying on big money contributions or personal wealth. Campaigns are almost always determined by who is the wealthiest.

• In every presidential election since 1984, the Republican and Democratic candidate with the most money a year before an election has won his party’s nomination.

Sources: www.democracymatters.org, www.yaleherald.com/article-p.php?Article=2757

Not Good Enough for Abe• Our government is not completely made OF the

people because wealth almost always determines the winner of elections.

• Our government is not completely created BY the people because special interests influence elections more than voters in many cases.

• Because our government is not completely OF and BY the people it does not always work FOR the people.

• People that give money expect to receive in return• Wealth determines political power.

Questions, Concerns, Outbursts?

Initial reaction?

Kira and Whitney have prepared a wonderful hand out that shows how these things affect

you everyday.

The Solution“The need for collecting large campaign funds would

vanish if Congress provided an appropriation for the proper and legitimate expenses of each of the great national parties, an appropriation ample enough to meet the necessity for thorough organization and machinery, which requires a large expenditure of money.”

- President Theodore Roosevelt

What’s Teddy Talking about?

Fair and Clean Elections

What will FACE Reform Accomplish?

• End the skyrocketing cost of campaigns and reduce the amount of time candidates spend fund raising. They will spend their time talking to voters not donors.

• Reduce the influence of special interest money and make politicians less accountable to them

• Level the playing field for good people with good ideas.

How will it do this and how does it work?

• FULL PUBLIC FINANCING (like Teddy was talking about) for any candidate who wants to run clean. Since the election is provided by the public the candidate is accountable to the public and not to the Big Money which finances them now.

• To qualify for Public Funds (I mean we’re not just giving out free money here) the candidate must go out and talks to VOTERS and collect small contributions ($50 or less) from eligible donors to show grassroots support.

• The full public financing allows spending caps in a constitutional manner. This helps to control the cost of campaigns.

• THE ESTIMATED COST FOR THE STATE OF MINNESOTA WOULD COST LESS THAN A PENNY A DAY PER TAX PAYER.

A Step by Step Description

Abe gives the OK.

• FACE Reform allows people who would not have otherwise been able to run the chance to run. A government OF the people.

• Full public financing provides for a government created BY the people, because the elections were publicly financed.

• This reform makes Fair and Clean candidates accountable to voters (aka the people). A government FOR the people.

The Best Part About This is that We know it worksMaine and Arizona

Amazing Results• Arizona: 23% increase in voter turnout since 1998.• Maine and Arizona: 10% increase in the number of women

candidates.• Arizona saw the number of candidates of color nearly

triple.Strong Bi-Partisan Support• Nearly 60% of Arizona’s Clean Election Officials are

Republicans.• Nearly 65% of Maine’s Clean Elections Officials are

Democrats.Source: www.publiccampaign.org

Candidates like it TOO

“It’s a good way of giving government back to the people… It lets people who are not well-connected run for the legislature.”

- Sen. Ed Youngblood (R – Maine) is a banker and was a first time candidate in 2000. He defeated a long-time, powerful incumbent.

“ I got to spend time with voters as opposed to spending time dialing for dollars or trying to sell tickets to $250 a plate fundraisers.”

- Governor Janet Napolitano (D – Arizona) ran as a Clean candidate in 2002. She defeated a privately-financed opponent.

ROLL FILM

We are lucky because Public Campaign put out this short and excellent film that tells us all about what’s going on in Arizona and Maine.

Title: The Road to Clean Elections

Enjoy the show and the groovy music.

Responses to the Filmand Questions in General?

Finally: What you can do?

The work of Democracy Matters is extremely important. It reclaims our democracy and

makes many other reforms possible.

As they say:

Change Elections. Change America.

Currently our main focus is education both at GAC and all around MN.

Goal:When anyone at Gustavus hears the term

FACE they know what we are talking about.

Our other focus is political.Writing our congress people. Etc.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING

OUR NEXT MEETING IS NEXT MONDAY AT 7PM in the

COURTYARD