the_real_xuth t1_iyimoik wrote on December 1, 2022 at 6:01 PM

Reply to comment by IFitsWhenISits in Dougie's shameless $30 cash grab preying on the gullible masses. by YonderMTN

We shouldn't have our elections take multiple years to run. In other places there are strict time limits on when campaigning can start and this on the level of weeks before an election rather than years.

Logan_Holmes t1_iyizi9a wrote on December 1, 2022 at 7:24 PM

Why should you not be allowed to start campaigning until a few weeks before the election?

the_real_xuth t1_iyjlc50 wrote on December 1, 2022 at 9:44 PM

One of the biggest things is that it distracts from governing. In the US, a very large percentage of a legislators efforts are spent on campaigning for the next election. This is especially the case for representatives who are elected every two years, where for many, there is no time when it's not campaign season. It is also hugely expensive thus giving unfair advantage to candidates who either have more money or have wealthier supporters.

I firmly believe that having more restricted campaign times combined with having saner finance rules (many of which we used to have) as well as the media fairness laws that we used to have (until they were gotten rid of in the Reagan era but this also ties into the finance rules since having billion dollar media corporations shilling for you is unquestionably helping to finance your campaign) would go a very long way to making our elections more fair and our governance far better. But when you take the path of anyone can campaign for anyone else at any time, saying anything they want, we get what we have today.

Galactus54 t1_iyk6440 wrote on December 2, 2022 at 12:12 AM

I absolutely agree - but since those greedy media grifters would see losses in the billions, they'd fight like hell against it. considering they have the loudest bull horns - and the candidates don't get the keep the money and would have to do so much begging we would hope they would also say yes to restricting campaign time. Make Labor Day the kickoff. Maybe July 4 for President because all states and territories are involved. But senate, house, govs and local races do not need more than 8 weeks to get their message out, do they? Put it on a ballot initiative. Extended media madness and the sloshing of corporate and billionaire bribes does nothing for progress. End this BS.