Continuing with the subject of my last post about a constituency test as a qualification for political donations to a candidate, I would ask you to look around as this year’s election is only a week away. Where I live the special interests and outside money are pouring resources into a Mayoral race and the food-related companies are shoveling money against an initiative requiring foods that have been genetically engineered to carry a label to inform the consumer of that fact.
If we were to apply a constituency test to these races, what would happen? Remember that only eligible voters are constituents and anyone who is not an eligible voter is not a constituent. First, all the outside money would be eliminated from the race because the donors don’t live within the jurisdiction and are, therefore, not eligible voters and not constituents. Second, all the special interest money would dry up because those groups are not eligible voters and, therefore, not constituents.
Non-constituents could still buy advertising, but they would not be able to take a direct position on the race without making an “in-kind” donation to one candidate or the other and since they are not constituents, such activities would be illegal. It would be good to make the penalties for violation heavy because there would be a lot of temptation during the election to commit the crime knowing that the penalty won’t come until after the election is over.
Now take a look around at the political races in your area. If all the non-constituent money were taken out of the race would your races become clearer? All that noise would be gone so the things you fear about the candidate or issue would be more truthful – maybe not the whole truth, but more truthful. Then, next Tuesday when the votes are counted, the elected official would have a clear and unmistakable loyalty to his or her constituents for having won the election.
Once again, imagine an elected official owing his or her allegiance to the voters – I think the founding fathers would be proud.
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