Opinion

Why we need publicly funded elections

Posted December 06, 2020 12:00 am

Chicago Alderman Raymond Lopez reversed his position on puppy mills after receiving $2,000 in contributions from a pet store owner, according to a Nov. 1 story in the Chicago Tribune. Lopez denied any connection between the contribution and his reversal.

Politicians throughout the country take contributions and it's unlikely anyone ever acknowledged any influence on a vote.

Politicians need money to win elections; relying on small donations is difficult. The temptation to take big contributions is hard to resist.

This creates favoritism and conflict of interest.

The Koch brothers and their fellow fossil fuel owners pledged to contribute $400 million in the 2018 midterms. If $2,000 can buy influence, imagine what $400 million can do.

For government to work for everyone and decisions to be based on merit, we need public funding of elections.

Richard Barsanti

Western Springs

Article Comments

Article Categories
Letters to the Editor Opinion

Article Comments

Guidelines: Keep it civil and on topic; no profanity, vulgarity, slurs or personal attacks. People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked. If a comment violates these standards or our terms of service, click the "flag" link in the lower-right corner of the comment box. To find our more, read our FAQ.