Fixing politics starts with campaign finance

Fixing what’s broken in Washington doesn’t require rocket scientists. It just requires 535 people to do the right things.

For example: They must ban all political contributions, including campaign advertising from companies, corporations and all organizations. Ban all money, gifts, contributions, parties, dinners, trips, lunches, drinks, etc., from lobbyists.

Only contributions under $50 from individuals would be legal. Parameters would be set for how much an individual’s House, Senate and presidential campaigns could spend. Those amounts would be given to each major candidate from the treasury. This alone would save billions of dollars each year in self-serving votes that only benefit the special interests.

Remove the tax avoidance loopholes that allow many individuals earning over $250,000 per year to pay little or no taxes. Add two new tax brackets for those earning $1 million-plus and 1 billion-plus per year.

Leave corporate tax rates where they are, but close the loopholes that allow our largest corporations to pay little or no taxes. Eliminate the tax incentives for companies who ship jobs overseas and subsidies for companies and industries that don’t need them to survive. Once done, lowering tax rates could be considered.

Many top economists say that just leveling the playing field regarding our import tariffs would bring jobs and manufacturing back. They say that the additional tariffs imposed on goods coming into the U.S., plus the cost of shipping those goods, is far greater than what the corporations would spend in the higher wages and benefits for American workers.

Last, but not least, we need a constitutional amendment placing term limits on service in the house and senate. The Founding Fathers did not intend for those seats to be careers.

Everything must begin with campaign finance reform. Until that becomes the law, you can count on our legislators continuing to serve their masters with the big bucks; and the special interest groups pounding us with their propaganda. Regardless of how smooth they talk, politicians are like diapers; they should be changed frequently for the same reason.

Len Brauer

Palatine