The centrist politics of the election produced a shrunken electorate and mandate. Are there fresh sources of progressive energy at the grass roots?
Elections
Posted inMoney, Politics, and Power
Ballot Blocks
Poor people are typically democracy’s missing persons. But the patterns of low-income voting show what really motivates the voters on election day.
Posted inMoney, Politics, and Power
Clean Elections, How To
Public frustration with political influence peddling hasn’t been this high since Watergate, and thanks to Maine we finally have an example of how to do reform right.
Posted inMoney, Politics, and Power
Motor Voter or Motivated Voter?
The Motor Voter law was supposed to dramatically increase turnout and give marginalized groups more voice in politics. Unfortunately, getting these groups to register doesn’t do any good if you don’t give them reason to vote.
Posted inMoney, Politics, and Power
Of our Time: Democracy v. Dollar
D emocracy, many people have said, is a matter of faith, but why, dear Lord, must our faith be tested so often? Lately, the role of money in political campaigns has been mocking our civic creed. “Here the people rule,” we are taught, and we would like to think so. But if the voters (and […]
Posted inMoney, Politics, and Power
Behind the Numbers: Tilt!
The partisan imbalance in campaign cash.
Posted inMoney, Politics, and Power
Harder Than Soft Money
The explosion of issue advocacy — money spent by individuals and independent groups to support political causes — threatens to make even an outright ban on “soft” money irrelevant. Worse, much of what passes for “issue advocacy” is really covert campaign financing. Still worse, it can’t be regulated.
Posted inMoney, Politics, and Power
Senator Dole’s Greatest Harvest
How long-cultivated interests help advance the Majority Leader’s political fortunes — and circumvent campaign finance limits.
Posted inMoney, Politics, and Power
Reform Beyond the Beltway
While Congress is deadlocked, real campaign finance reform is moving ahead in the states.
Posted inMoney, Politics, and Power
Watch What You Wish For
In pursuit of campaign finance reform, many seek to reverse the precedent established by the Supreme Court in 1975, protecting campaign expenditures as free speech. But if the Court’s ruling is overturned, the general protections of the First Amendment might be severely narrowed.