The principle of “one person, one vote” is a cornerstone of American Democracy. But since our public elections are financed by private contributions, it often seems as though that cornerstone principle has been replaced by “one dollar, one vote,” and that the more dollars one can spend, the more votes one can buy.
Political campaigns are now outrageously expensive and often preclude ordinary citizens from entering the electoral arena. The high cost of television advertising is a major factor in these expenses. However, since the public owns the airwaves, shouldn’t our public airwaves be used at no cost for political debates and discussions? Please check back, as the Political Reform Program researches and suggests ways that our public media can be used for civic education and political campaigns.
