Better Parties, Better Government: A Realistic Program for Campaign Finance Reform [Paperback]

This book brilliantly shows how and why campaign finance laws, while claiming to eliminate corruption and enhance fair elections, instead did little more than protect incumbents against electoral challenges. Whether the authors' creative proposals work remains to be seen. But this book changes the paradigm of thinking on this issue, and is now the ultimate source for anyone who cares about how a democracy should work.Today's campaign finance system, by preventing parties from financing their candidates, unfairly protects the interests of incumbents. Wallison and Gora clearly showcase how the American political process can refocus on satisfying the needs of its citizens simply by returning authority to the political parties. Better Parties, Better Government points to the one campaign finance reform that can actually bring reform to American politics.Campaign finance laws essentially prohibit political parties from fundraising on behalf of individual candidates, forcing candidates to finance campaigns independently. This system favors wealthy candidates and protects incumbents while discouraging challengers. In Better Candidates, Better Parties, Better Government, Peter J. Wallison and Joel Gora argue that allowing parties a greater role in campaign fundraising would strengthen the parties, attract more qualified candidates, and free officeholders to govern without undue financial influence.Every federal campaign finance reform law enacted since 1971_ostensibly intended to keep politicians honest and limit the influence of contributors_has in reality protected incumbents by reducing the funds available to challengers. Although the courts have struck down many of the most egregious incumbent-protection measures enacted by Congress, important ones still remain_particularly restrictions on what political parties can spend in support of their candidates. These restrictions explain why reelection rates for incumbents are so high_up to 98 percent in recent years_despite relch