Max S. Dunn

Blog: Campaign Contribution Limits

Posted by: Max Dunn on November 4, 2008 07:54:10

While it is a noble cause to try to reform campaign financing so that money doesn't play as big a role, it is also a futile cause. No matter how tightly contributions are restricted, there will always be a way around it. For instance, instead of contributing directly to the candidate, contributions can be made to their party. Or better yet, pick an issue that defines the candidate's stance and contribute a lot of money to that issue. There currently are no limits on this type of contribution and there won't be - because this would be a restriction on free speech.

While this has been rather a theoretical issue in the past, this year it became a reality in California. Proposition 8 is a highly divisive issue and is serving to energize conservative voters to turn out to the polls.  So if someone wanted to do more for conservative candidates and has already maxed out on their direct contributions, they can simply contribute to this proposition. Over $35 million dollars was spent by both sides on this proposition - more than any other proposition and more than spent on most campaigns.

So in the end, trying to limit campaign contributions is a futile cause and we should instead concentrate on making it easier for all politicians to raise money in a way that guarantees transparency, rather than forcing them to go through this type of subterfuge which ultimately serves to hide the source of campaign financing.