In this publication, two leading law professors challenge the existing campaign reform agenda in America and present an initiative that claims to avoid the mistakes of the past. Bruce Ackerman and Ian Ayres build on the example of the secret ballot and propose a system of "secret donation booths" for campaign contributions. They unveil a plan in which the government provides each voter with a special credit card account containing 50 "Patriot dollars" for presidential elections. To use this money, citizens go to their local ATM machine and anonymously send their Patriot dollars to their favourite candidates or political organizations. Americans are free to make additional contributions, but they must also give these gifts anonymously. Because candidates cannot identify who provided the funds, it will be much harder for big contributors to buy political influence. And the need for politicians to compete for the Patriot dollars will give much more power to the people. Ackerman and Ayres work out the operating details of their plan, anticipate problems, design safeguards, suggest overseers, and show how their proposals satisfy the most stringent constitutional requirements. They conclude with a model statute that could serve as the basis of a serious congressional effort to restore Americans' faith in democratic politics.
Voting with Dollars: A New Paradigm for Campaign Finance
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle. Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Browse our Bookshelf Favorites store for big savings on popular fiction, nonfiction, children's books, and more. |
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"This book should be required reading for anyone concerned about the future of American democracy." Jesse Choper, University of California, Berkeley "This breakthrough book initiates the long-overdue effort to examine alternative approaches to campaign finance reform, eschewing the traditional limits-driven strategy. It offers a refreshingly novel approach, while showing respect for enduring constitutional values." Nadine Strossen, president, American Civil Liberties Union; professor of law, New York Law School. "Campaign money isn't the root of all that ails our democratic system - it's the way money gets into campaigns that's the problem. Ackerman and Ayres provide a fresh and provocative way of thinking about the interaction between dollars and votes, and a fascinating out-of-the-box solution for what's wrong." Robert B. Reich, Hexter Professor of Social and Economic Policy, Brandeis University
From the Back Cover
"This book should be required reading for anyone concerned about the future of American democracy."—Jesse Choper, University of California, Berkeley "This breakthrough book initiates the long-overdue effort to examine alternative approaches to campaign finance reform, eschewing the traditional limits-driven strategy. It offers a refreshingly novel approach, while showing respect for enduring constitutional values."—Nadine Strossen, president, American Civil Liberties Union; professor of law, New York Law School. "Campaign money isn't the root of all that ails our democratic system—it's the way money gets into campaigns that's the problem. Ackerman and Ayres provide a fresh and provocative way of thinking about the interaction between dollars and votes, and a fascinating out-of-the-box solution for what's wrong."— Robert B. Reich, Hexter Professor of Social and Economic Policy, Brandeis University
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images? |
More About the Authors
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
Share your thoughts with other customers
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Full disclosure: I just started a non-profit with the authors to educate people about ideas like those in Voting With Dollars. Our website is at www.CitSov.org. Here's why I joined the effort.
The Citizen Sovereignty Act, a two-part legislative proposal detailed in Voting With Dollars, would invigorate citizen involvement in politics and remedy cynicism about campaign fundraising.
The Act would fundamentally reform federal campaign fundraising by extending voters the use of automated teller machines for publicly funded campaign contributions of "Patriot dollars," and; by rendering private campaign contributions anonymous, mimicking the secret ballot as a safeguard to the integrity of the political process.
A major benefit of these innovations is to allow a substantial increase in campaign contribution limits and associated free speech. Other, more incremental efforts to reform federal campaign finance fall short of the Citizen Sovereignty Act.
* The Act eliminates the sale of political access for political funds while increasing the funding and opportunity for free speech.
* The Act redirects the permanent campaign of political fund-raising toward all the nation's voters and away from the one-half of one percent who today make half of all contributions.
* By potentially involving every American in political fund-raising, the Act increases voter participation on Election Day.
Voting With Dollars details the Act and how it satisfies constitutional requirements. A model statute provides a concrete basis for an effort to restore faith in Congress and the Executive Branch.
Read Voting With Dollars. Take a look at www.CitSov.org. Get involved in making it possible for everyone to participate in the money primary of American politics.
The Citizen Sovereignty Act, a two-part legislative proposal detailed in Voting With Dollars, would invigorate citizen involvement in politics and remedy cynicism about campaign fundraising.
The Act would fundamentally reform federal campaign fundraising by extending voters the use of automated teller machines for publicly funded campaign contributions of "Patriot dollars," and; by rendering private campaign contributions anonymous, mimicking the secret ballot as a safeguard to the integrity of the political process.
A major benefit of these innovations is to allow a substantial increase in campaign contribution limits and associated free speech. Other, more incremental efforts to reform federal campaign finance fall short of the Citizen Sovereignty Act.
* The Act eliminates the sale of political access for political funds while increasing the funding and opportunity for free speech.
* The Act redirects the permanent campaign of political fund-raising toward all the nation's voters and away from the one-half of one percent who today make half of all contributions.
* By potentially involving every American in political fund-raising, the Act increases voter participation on Election Day.
Voting With Dollars details the Act and how it satisfies constitutional requirements. A model statute provides a concrete basis for an effort to restore faith in Congress and the Executive Branch.
Read Voting With Dollars. Take a look at www.CitSov.org. Get involved in making it possible for everyone to participate in the money primary of American politics.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Sing T. Loc
Format:Hardcover
Voting With Dollars was a book that seemed interesting after reading The 2% Solution by Matthew Miller. Bruce Ackerman and Ian Ayres talks about the strong influence of money in politics and how we as citizens, can take back our politicians away from corporations (PACs, lobbyist, etc). Since money talks and BS walks, they have introduced the "patriot dollars" concept. This "dollar" allow us to give money to people who would normally not run for office because of the price tag of getting into office. We are still able to use these dollars for a Democrat or a Republican, but the option of helping a third party is made available. Ackerman and Ayres follow up the "patriot dollar" with their "secret donation booth." This can be accessed through any ATM (which should be readily available in America). The "secret donation booth" is designed to limit the influence of wealthy donors (they are not proposing donation limits). By doing that, politicians are more focused on what the general public needs, not what "special interest" need. They readily admit that money will always be involved in political office but their goal is to minimize the influence of large rich donors and increase the influence of "average" citizens. Excerpt from their book: "Short of the abolition of free markets and private property, there is simply no way to eliminate the influence of private money on democratic politics-and to paraphrase Madison, surely this cure is far worse than the disease." As for disliking the book or a negative feedback, I can't think of one because it has not been implemented. Every election cycle, we talk about campaign finance reform and still nothing happens. When a reform is suggested, lawyers find loopholes and exploit it. Ackerman and Ayres go through every possible loophole in their proposal and explain what can be done to make their proposal viable. Just as important, their proposal is Constitutionally sound.
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The biggest problem facing Americans is this: Their government officials are bought and sold like commodities. You vote, sure, but wealthy interests vote many times more.
Public financing, as it is presented in Voting With Dollars can work. I'm not sure about the anonymous component, but it is quite deliberate in manner. Sure, it is a little bit dry and some portions hard to get through but the idea is money.
Public financing, as it is presented in Voting With Dollars can work. I'm not sure about the anonymous component, but it is quite deliberate in manner. Sure, it is a little bit dry and some portions hard to get through but the idea is money.
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
|
|
