Public Financing to Clean Up Politics

By Craig Dunkerley, Letter to the Editor

The arrest of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich for soliciting various payoffs in exchange for political favors is troubling to say the least. But it's just an example of the pay-to-play politics which is actually illegal. What about all the legalized bribery that goes on every day at all levels of government under the guise of "campaign contributions?" Their legal status is precisely what makes such contributions much more insidious and damaging to the body politic than the obvious corruption exemplified by Blagojevich. And until we have public financing of all campaigns, the corrosive influence of private money will quietly continue to make a mockery of our democracy.

Craig Dunkerley
San Jose

(In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.)