Campaign finance must be reformed

Imagine if there were only one university in Indiana -- IU. And professors were elected every four years by a state-wide vote instead of chosen by administrators. And because there was just one university, these professors would make lots of money and have lots of power. After all, a university degree can be a ticket to success, and if there were one university and the professors handed out the grades -- well, you can see why they would be powerful. Lots of people would want to be professors.\nA campaign to get elected would be expensive, because of the cost of things like television and radio ads. Re-election campaigns would also be costly, although the incumbent professors typically would win. So how could they afford these elections? Well, some might be millionaires and fund themselves. Others might find people willing to fund their campaigns. Guess who? Parents of current and future students. They would figure that by helping professors get elected, their sons and daughters would be more likely to get into IU, and would get better grades if they did. \nAnd they would be right. So students of wealthy families would do well under this system. And their children would do well. And so on.\nBut what if your family didn't have a lot of money? Well, you would still have your right to vote. You would have some say in what professors were elected. And some students would do so well in school they would accepted by IU, whether their parents gave to the campaigns or not.\nBut even if you were accepted to IU and worked hard, it wouldn't be a picnic. You'd go to class, and find seating had to be paid for. The seats close to the professors would cost lots of money -- money you didn't have. Trying to talk to a professor would be even worse. Before and after class, the professor would be surrounded by students. One would say, "Professor, you probably remember my father, Daddy Deep-pockets? He said to say 'hello.'" \nThe professor would smile a big smile, shake the student's hand, and say, "Of course I remember your father! Now, what can I do for you?" Then the professor would leave.\nTrying his or her office would be no better. You'd be told the professor was too busy, but one of his or her assistants would gladly take a message. The funny thing is, you'd see other students meeting with the professor in the office, going to lunch together, attending basketball games together -- courtside seats, naturally -- and attending functions at his or her house. \nYou would learn these were students whose families had contributed to the professor's last campaign. And they might even have to pay extra for the privilege of visiting with the professor -- say a couple of grand for dinner. But it would pay off. When professors would divvy up funds to school districts in the state (oh, I forgot to tell you they decided that), the most funds somehow would go to districts where the wealthiest parents lived. When professors would admit students to IU (oh, I forgot to tell you they decided that too), somehow most of the students would be from those districts. And in your classes, those same students -- the children of Daddy Deep-pockets -- would always get credit for "special projects." And you? You would be lucky to pass the class.\nEnd of story. Does this sound like a good system? No. If you actually had to endure such a system, you'd be outraged. For good reason. But that's where we are with members of Congress, and campaigns run by them, and decisions made by them. Right now. \nSome citizens have devoted years to changing this, as campaigns have become more and more expensive, and wealthy individuals, corporations and unions have bought increasing influence in Congress. Some members of Congress -- from both parties -- have also tried to change this screwed-up situation. \nBut thus far there hasn't even been a debate in the Senate, much less a vote, because powerful Senators (Sen. Trent Lott, for example) have used filibusters to keep campaign finance reform bills from reaching the floor.\nBut there will now be a full debate in the Senate. Now is your chance to let your Senator know you want campaign finance reform. Because while many members of Congress do want change, many other members -- and the deep-pocket campaign donors -- don't want change. They want to be re-elected, and they want to be able to keep buying political influence.\nThey will try every trick in the book. Educate yourself. Don't be fooled. If you don't want campaign finance reform, or don't care, I hope you're one of the ones with deep pockets for buying influence in Washington, because otherwise you're just shooting yourself in the foot.\nOh, and if you're one of the ones whose deep pockets are buying influence in Washington -- go and shoot yourself in the foot.