Runaway spending needs to be tamed : News-Record.com : Greensboro & the Triad's most trusted source for local news and analysis

If you’re already disgusted by campaign attack ads that disregard truth, brace yourself for what journalist Joe Hagan calls the coming “tsunami of slime.” What has happened in the Republican primaries to date will seem mild compared to what super PACs and nonprofits such as the Koch brothers’ Americans for Prosperity are going to throw at us in the fall elections.

There is, however, a glimmer of hope: a constitutional amendment that effectively overturns the Supreme Court’s “Citizens United” decision by giving Congress and state legislatures the power to make laws regulating the raising and spending of election-related funds. Tom Udall of New Mexico and other senators have introduced such an amendment; its full text is available online at Sen. Udall’s website.

The proposed amendment is only a beginning. Passing it and getting it ratified will require a massive effort that will have to swim upstream against the very “tsunami of slime” it attempts to stem. Voters will then still have to elect representatives who actually will enact such laws. But without such an amendment, our political system is at the mercy of those who have the money to simply buy the politicians who will do their bidding.

Eddie Bass
Julian

sperbypinerjr

February 9, 2012 - 8:49 am EST

NOTHING will ever change until we get a President who actually knows what they are doing. For the past 50 years, we have elected a plutocrat to that high office, (not to mention Congress), and we are now over 15 TRILLION in debt with another 1.5 TRILLION approved with NO end in sight. Obama and none of the Republican candidates have the slightest inkling of how to get this debt under control or get jobs back to the U.S., yet the political ignorant 'jump on board' of their favorite candidate who is absolutely incompetent to govern our nation.
It's time to elect an average American citizen who can't be bought and will actually do something. It's not a mystery to me as to how to get the debt under control and start paying it off as well as get jobs back to the United States and there are thousands of average American citizens who could do it also. But the chance of ever getting someone other that the 'elite' in high office is made impossible by the 'elite'. When will we ever learn and get on board with a true leader? If past experience is any indicator, probably never.

destinys mother in law

February 9, 2012 - 8:54 am EST

How do you define "elite?"

pragmatist

February 9, 2012 - 11:55 am EST

<<< It's not a mystery to me as to how to get the debt under control and start paying it off as well as get jobs back to the United States and there are thousands of average American citizens who could do it also.>>>

Eureka. All our problems solved. So, what's your plan?

ghost from white oak

February 9, 2012 - 9:44 am EST

First, let me say how much I agree with sperbypinerjr's comment.

Now this would come as a blow to the campaigner in chief who has embraced these "super pacs", except it won't do anything to deter this spending.
As with most things in politics, they are only bad, if they involve the other party.

Snapper0274

February 9, 2012 - 9:56 am EST

When I read the title of this letter I initially thought it would address federal government spending, as anytime the term "runaway spending" is used the federal government instantly comes to mind.

nemo0037

February 9, 2012 - 10:01 am EST

"Corporations are people too, my friend!"

Words we will be living by for the foreseeable future. Sad, but true.

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