Of campaign reform and term limits

Government is broken - pure and simple. The current system doesn't work. Those elected to office have their energy and time focused on doing what it takes to win re-election, not on governing or fixing the many problems now confronting us.

This is true at the state and national level. It doesn't matter if the individual is a Republican, Democrat or independent. There are no "change" candidates. President Obama was elected as the "change" master. Once elected, he has now blended into the system and is no different from the rest.

I believe the system will stay broken until two things happen: legitimate campaign funding reform and term limitations. Elections are won and lost based on spending. This has been proven over and over again. The more you can spend, the more exposure and the greater your chances of winning. Once on the inside, it is almost impossible to lose. That is why insiders are fighting campaign finance reform with such vigor.

Campaign finance reform would level the playing field, bring more competition to elections and provide the voters with more choice. Term limitations would eliminate the "career politician" and bring people to public office who are really concerned about governing. Today, there is no governing happening anywhere, just lots of politicking.

If these two changes are to happen, they will have to be fought for by the people. Politicians have no interest in either. They want these cushy jobs and the lush benefits they bring for a lifetime.

It starts with us. Demand your representative push for campaign financing reform and term limitations. If he/she wont, vote for someone else. Too much is at stake to continue with a system that simply doesn't work. Government belongs to us, not a handful of people who are focused on their own interests.

Randy Church

Glendale Heights