Fixin' America

Campaign Finance Reform

by Silent Partner

Posted September 20, 2009

Don't tread on me, the rallying battle cry of the first American Revolution. If we need a new battle cry, I personally like an old Clint Eastwood line "don't piss down my back and tell me it's raining." Maybe this is not much of a battle cry, but an apt description of what's going on with our government.

Don't tread on me refers to among other things taxation without representation. Back then, people were sick and tired of a parliament and monarchy three thousand miles away making rules and passing taxes on British subjects living in America who were not represented in the government. At least now we have representation, don't we? I say "hell no we don't"! Until we limit political campaign donations, we are being manipulated by corporations and ideologues with enough money to decide who is elected and then forcing the elected officials to vote in their favor. These big campaign donors are being represented not Darrell and the rest of us.

Remember the golden rule, "the man with the gold rules." The way to get elected is to get the most gold that you can and buy yourself a seat at the table of democracy. The way to get the most gold is to get into bed with corporations and political action groups. The way to get re-elected is to pass laws which benefit the people who gave you the gold…to hell with what Darrell, you or I want or need!

So I contend that we have no representation and the government has run amuck spending our gold on supporting the banks, mortgage companies, insurance agencies, car companies and extremist groups like Acorn. These are the very groups that donated to the campaigns. These groups/companies have money and can donate handsomely to buy their representatives in our government.

If we want to fix America without another revolution we need to change things and truly reform campaign donation laws. Here's prohillbilly's idea for fixin' America:

Real Campaign Reform

1. The only legal campaign donations have to come from individuals with US citizenship.
   • No corporate or organization donations allowed.
   • No foreign or non US citizen donations allowed.
2. Each US citizen may donate a maximum of $50 to any campaign
   • US citizens may only donate to presidential campaigns and politicians that represent them directly. You may not support a campaign outside of your district or state.
3. All campaign commercials and promotional materials must be funded by the candidate. No outside political organizations or others may promote a candidate in any way.

Penalties for violation of new campaign laws

Penalties must be severe enough to protect our greatest right, the right to vote in a fair election!

1. US Corporations or organizations that try to donate either directly or by pressuring individuals.
   • All board members and company officers involved are to be immediately removed from their position and are banned from working for this company or organization for 10 years. There will be no compensation allowed to these individuals and all earning after the infraction must be returned to the corporation or organization.
   • All board members and company officers involved will be fined up to 50% of their net worth. This money is earmarked to support wounded or killed veterans and their families.
   • This will be followed by a minimum prison time of 5 years without parole in a maximum security facility.
2. Foreign corporations, organizations or individuals or non US citizens that try to donate.
   • Non US citizens living in America will be immediately expelled and will never be allowed to re-enter the United States. Any family members that are not US citizens are subject to the same penalty. Re-entry in the United States will result in a life prison sentence without trial.
   • Any foreigner (individual) attempting to donate to a campaign will be black listed and arrested upon attempted entry into the United States. Any country with an extradition treaty with the United States will be subject to turning over these criminals for trial. The penalty if convicted will be 5 years without the opportunity for parole.
   • Any Foreign corporation or organization which violates our campaign laws are banned from doing business in the US for 100 years. This will include any or all affiliated companies or organizations related to or created by the offender.
   • Any convicted foreign company or organization assets in the United States will be seized and distributed amongst the US citizens employed by these criminals.
3. Any US Citizen who tries to donate over the $50 limit
   • Any US Citizen who tries to donate over the limit set forth under this law will be subject to a fine on the first offense up to 25% of their total net worth. A second offense will require a 5 year minimum prison sentence and up to 50% of their remaining wealth, which will include any trust funds, retirement funds/accounts, college funds etc.
4. Any US citizen who donates to a campaign fund outside of their district/precinct/parish etc.
   • Will be subject to a fine on the first offense up to 25% of their total net worth. A second offense will require a 5 year minimum prison sentence and up to 50% of their remaining wealth, which will include any trust funds, retirement funds/accounts, college funds etc.
5. Any Company, organization or individual that creates and distributes campaign or candidate promotional materials independent of the candidate's campaign fund.
   • These entities will be subject to the aforementioned penalties as outlined in paragraphs 1 through 4 under the Penalties for violation of new campaign laws.

Bottom line:

By removing; foreign, non US citizens, Corporation, Organizations, and out of district campaign donations, we get our politicians elected, not the politicians working for groups like acorn. We get politicians that are motivated to serve Darrell and the rest of us hillbillies and non-hillbillies alike. Our elected officials now have to serve their constituents and not the special interest groups which currently control their political coffers. Doubly important we help to relieve some of the cynicism the average American voter harbors and this will lead to even more involvement in the election process by eligible voters. We may even begin to feel like we are important to the election process, not just pawn in some political game.

Prohillbilly.com challenges any US senator or Representative to take this campaign reform and turn it from a hillbilly concept to a bill and then federal law.