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Submission CONNON-1578 (Online)

Submission By Jim Connon
AddressKamloops, BC,
Organization
Date20040906
CategoryDemocratic elections
Abstract
Almost without exception, the party which gets the most special interest money stands the best chance of winning political office. To say the least it certainly corrupts the present electoral process and needs to be corrected. [1 page]

Submission Content
On those occasions when Citizen Assembly representatives are interviewed on television there doesn't seem to be any mention or discussion on the matter of contributions to political parties. The present system has this serious flaw in that almost without exception the party which gets the most special interest money stands the best chance of winning political office. To say the least it certainly corrupts the present electoral process.

One would have to be naive to think this doesn't play a major role in putting a given candidate, or party into office. Is it any wonder then that we have such voter apathy? Everyone knows that the Corporate sector contributes to candidates that will serve their own interests as does Labour Unions.

So, how do the people of BCget a representative government untainted by political contributions which only serve the interests of the contributor?To start with there should, by law, be no contributions from any source, not from corporations, not from unions nor individuals.None. Now, those running for political must have funds to do so and the following is suggested: for every income tax return submitted in B.C. an equal fee would be assessed, each year, the total of which would be used to finance all who run for political office, taking into account size of riding etc.

On the  surface this would appear expensive -- and probably so -- but it would be the people of B.C. electing candidates to govern not " bought for " candidates whose interests are those of his/her contributor only. Until the practice of " buying a party into office" is corrected,  Population/Representation and the valiant efforts of the Citizens' Assembly will continue to have the present problem to good government.  And isn't this what you,  the Citizens' Assembly, are attempting to do? 

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