Campaign Financing - Foreign Dollars in play

Progressives were up in arms after the United States Supreme Court ruled that Corporations have the right to run ads for or against candidates as well as contribute money to Super PAC's. The Citizen's United case paved the way, and the recent ruling by the SCOTUS this past week, for a large influx of money and energy to be poured into every campaign in the United States. A prime example is the recent recall attempt of Governor Scott Walker in Wisconsin.

The recall election saw pro-Scott Walker camps outspending anti-Scott Walker camps nearly 8 to 1. Progressive pundits claimed that the large difference in money spent was the main contributor to Governor Walker remaining in office. Progressives are upset because their Union coffers no longer give them an advantage with the decision of Citizen's United.  One of the fears discussed after Citizen's United was the influx of foreign cash into campaigns.

To date the Democrat National Party has raised over $335M while the Republican National Party has raised over $320M. PAC's have raised, collectively, just as much as both parties. Unfortunately I couldn't find a breakout of the PAC's based on who they backed on the Federal Election Commission website (www.fec.gov). All this being said, George Clooney will be assissting President Obama in Geneva, Switzerland to raise "euro-cash" for re-election. http://www.fec.gov/disclosure/partySummary.do?cf=phome

First, Progressives rail against the lost monopoly of Union warchest with the upholding of Citizen's United. Now, Progressives are bringing in foreign dollars and influences which they said Conservatives would do with the Citizen's United decision. When will the Federal Election Commission rule that no money but a small stipend from the Federal Government may be spent on elections? Even though I contend that every American has the God given right to voice their opinion in favor or against a candidate, I do draw the line at foreign influences. I do acknowledge that both sides are guilty too.

Rhetoric of the campaign season

It does appear now that Gov. Romney will secure the Republican nominee for President of the United States and President Obama will be the Democratic nominee. Before the media starts spinning things and before Super PAC's start running their ads for or against a candidate let's get some definition's out there that we can all agree on. Here is a short list:

Democrat - A member of the Democratic Party.

Republican - A member of the Republican Party.

Socialism - A theory or system of social reform which contemplates a complete reconstruction of society, with a more just and equitable distribution of property and labor.

Capitalism - An economic system based on predominately private (individual or corporate) investment in and ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange of goods and wealth.

Fascism - An authoritarian system of government under absolute control of a single dictator, allowing no political opposition, forcibly suppressing dissent, and rigidly controlling most industrial and economic activities.

Communism - A scheme of equalizing the social conditions of life; specifically, a scheme which contemplates the abolition of inequalities in the possession of property, as by distributing all wealth equally to all, or by holding all wealth in common for the equal use and advantage of all.

Republic - A state in which the sovereign power resides in the whole body of the people, and is exercised by representatives elected by them.

Democracy - Government by popular representation; a form of government in which the supreme power is reatined by the people, but is indirectly execercised through a system of representation and delegated authority periodically renewed.

Liberalism - An economic theory advocating free competition and a self-regulating market and the gold standard.

Progressive - Disposed toward adopting a new methods in government or education, holding tolerant and liberal ideas, and generally favoring improvement in the civic life.

Conservative - One who desires to maintain existing institutions and customs; also, one who holds moderate opinions in politics.

All these definitions are taken from www.webster-dictionary.org. It is interesting to see the root definitions of these words. I think for an accurate debate and character to develop we need this common ground. Now, if others feel Webster has it wrong then let's redefine them so we are all on the same page going forward.