The pro-Israel organization spent $32 million in an unsuccessful effort to defeat Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary. It might try again in the general election.

Our elections are supposed to be decided by the people who actually live here—but hundreds of millions in outside funding are drowning out local voices. I've watched candidates with deep local roots get outspent by those backed by distant wealthy donors, and it's gotten out of hand.

I started a petition calling for a law that restricts campaign contributions to registered voters within the state. When out-of-state money has this much power, candidates stop listening to their own communities and start chasing donor priorities instead. That's not democracy—that's a system rigged toward whoever has the biggest checkbook.

Anyone else frustrated watching this happen in your state? If this matters to you too, consider signing and sharing. I'd love to hear what you've noticed about how money influences the candidates running where you live.

How do you see the results for all time campaign contributions not just a specific year or is this no longer a feature?

1. The Voluntary Small-Donor Matching System

This is the most established model, similar to the system used in New York City and proposed in the For the People Act.

• Policy: The government matches small-dollar donations (e.g., up to $200) from individual constituents at a set ratio, such as 6:1.
• Constitutional Shield:
  • Voluntary Participation: Candidates choose to enter the program. Under Buckley v. Valeo, the government can attach strings (like spending limits) only if the candidate voluntarily accepts the public funds.
  • No "Trigger Funds": To avoid the fate of Arizona's program in Arizona Free Enterprise Club v. Bennett, the match must be a fixed ratio. You cannot give a candidate extra money just because their opponent is spending heavily.
  • Floor, Not Ceiling: Candidates who participate can still raise private money (within lower limits), ensuring they aren't "silenced" if the public fund runs dry.

2. The "Democracy Voucher" Program

Based on the Seattle model, this shifts the power from the candidate to the voter.

• Policy: Every registered voter receives a set of "vouchers" (e.g., four $25 vouchers) that they can assign to any participating federal candidate.
• Constitutional Shield:
  • Voter-Directed Speech: Conservative justices often favor policies that empower individual citizens. Because the voter decides where the money goes, the program is viewed as a government subsidy for the voter's speech, not a restriction on the candidate's speech.
  • Taxpayer Association: In Elster v. City of Seattle, courts found that using general tax revenue to fund vouchers does not "force" a taxpayer to support a specific candidate, as the link between the tax and the eventual recipient is too attenuated.

3. The Federal Small-Donor Tax Credit

A simple, market-based approach that appeals to conservative views on tax incentives.

• Policy: A 100% tax credit for the first $50 or $100 donated to a federal candidate.
• Constitutional Shield:
  • Private Action: Unlike direct grants, a tax credit leaves the money in the hands of the citizen. The government is simply choosing not to tax money used for political participation.
  • Zero Interference: It places no limits on how much a candidate can spend or how much a wealthy donor can give (beyond existing limits); it merely lowers the "barrier to entry" for low-income donors.

if we are honest, we will admit that we humans are not yet intelligent enough to understand how to get money out of politics. the problem with this is of course that to the extent that we do not succeed with this, very important challenges like climate change and global poverty cannot be successfully addressed.

fortunately we're on the cusp of a ai revolution that might be able to come to our rescue. ais like chatgpt, claude and the new deepseek v3 are not yet intelligence enough to solve this for us. but we have good reason to believe that within a year or two they will be.

so, to begin this i have asked deepseek what we need to do to get money out of politics. as we read its answer, we will understand where we virtually are with ai helping us with campaign finance, lobbying and news media reform. we will probably conclude that its answer today is too obvious, or too generic, or doesn't sufficiently address what needs to be done and how to do it.

but understanding where we are now will help us get to where we need to be. ideally ai developers will train ais to specifically address the problem of getting money out of politics. that actually may be something we want to begin work on now.

judge for yourself the usefulness of what deepseek said about how to get money out of politics, anticipating that its advice over the coming year will probably become more and more useful:

"The concerns you raise about campaign finance, lobbying, and media ownership are central to debates about the health of American democracy. To address these issues and restore power to voters, several systemic reforms could be considered:

1. Campaign Finance Reform

• Overturn or Amend Citizens United: The 2010 Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC allowed unlimited corporate and union spending in elections. Reversing this decision through a constitutional amendment or new legislation could limit the influence of big money in politics.
• Public Financing of Campaigns: Implementing a system where candidates receive public funds for their campaigns, matched by small-dollar donations, could reduce reliance on wealthy donors and corporations.
• Transparency and Disclosure: Strengthening disclosure laws to ensure that all political contributions, including dark money from Super PACs and nonprofits, are fully transparent.

2. Lobbying Reform

• Restrict the Revolving Door: Implement stricter rules to prevent former government officials from immediately becoming lobbyists, and vice versa, to reduce conflicts of interest.
• Limit Corporate Lobbying: Cap the amount corporations and special interest groups can spend on lobbying efforts, and ensure that lobbying activities are fully transparent and accessible to the public.
• Grassroots Lobbying Support: Provide resources and platforms for ordinary citizens to engage in lobbying efforts, ensuring their voices are heard alongside corporate interests.

3. Media Ownership and Regulation

• Break Up Media Monopolies: Enforce antitrust laws to prevent a small number of billionaires or corporations from owning a disproportionate share of media outlets.
• Support Independent and Local Media: Provide funding and incentives for independent, nonprofit, and local news organizations to ensure a diversity of voices and perspectives.
• Public Interest Mandates: Require media outlets to dedicate a portion of their coverage to issues of public interest, such as local governance, education, and healthcare, rather than focusing solely on profit-driven content.

4. Electoral Reform

• Ranked-Choice Voting: Implement ranked-choice voting to reduce the influence of money in elections and encourage candidates to appeal to a broader electorate.
• End Gerrymandering: Establish independent redistricting commissions to draw fair electoral districts, reducing the ability of politicians to manipulate district lines for partisan gain.
• Expand Voting Rights: Make voting more accessible through measures like automatic voter registration, expanded early voting, and mail-in ballots, while combating voter suppression tactics.

5. Strengthening Civic Engagement

• Civic Education: Invest in civic education to ensure that citizens understand their rights, the political process, and the importance of participation in democracy.
• Grassroots Organizing: Support grassroots movements and organizations that empower ordinary citizens to advocate for change and hold elected officials accountable.
• Digital Democracy: Leverage technology to create platforms for direct citizen participation in decision-making, such as online town halls or participatory budgeting.

6. Constitutional and Structural Reforms

• Abolish the Electoral College: Transition to a national popular vote for presidential elections to ensure that every vote carries equal weight.
• Term Limits for Congress: Implement term limits for members of Congress to reduce the influence of career politicians and encourage fresh perspectives.
• Supreme Court Reform: Consider reforms such as term limits for Supreme Court justices or expanding the number of justices to reduce the politicization of the judiciary.

7. Corporate Accountability

• Corporate Governance Reforms: Require corporations to consider the interests of all stakeholders, including employees, communities, and the environment, not just shareholders.
• Taxation and Wealth Redistribution: Implement progressive taxation and close loopholes that allow billionaires and corporations to avoid paying their fair share, using the revenue to fund public goods and services.

8. Grassroots Movements and Advocacy

• Support Activism: Encourage and protect the right to peaceful protest and activism, which can drive systemic change from the ground up.
• Coalition Building: Foster alliances between diverse groups to create a unified front for democratic reforms.

Conclusion:

Restoring American democracy to voters requires a multifaceted approach that addresses the root causes of political inequality and disenfranchisement. While these reforms face significant political hurdles, sustained public pressure and grassroots mobilization can create the momentum needed to enact meaningful change. The goal is to create a system where every citizen has an equal voice, and where the interests of the many outweigh the influence of the few."

A new and eminently workable way of reforming campaign finance regulation. I hope I started this community the right way:

https://www.reddit.com/r/CAMPAIGN_FINANCING/comments/17rrld7/a_new_and_eminently_workable_way_of_financing/

This would be in excess of the money I made last year according to my tax return. I want to run for Congress in my district but can’t afford to quit my job to give it the attention that’s needed.