The Raleigh News and Observer lauds John Edwards for his decision to opt in to the public financing program in his presidential bid and urges other candidates to take a stand in support of a voter-owned election system.The editorial asserts that whether Edwards' motivations for using public financing were pragmatic or principled ones, the fundamental value of the program remains unchanged: The louder the voices of special interest groups, the lower the volume on the opinions of the American people. That might change if the biggest contributors to campaigns were the people themselves. What in the world would the politicians do then? Would they actually have to listen to and act upon the views of average citizens? That sounds suspiciously like old-fashioned democracy. Considering the degree to which candidates employ "good old days" nostalgia on the campaign trail, perhaps they've got room to stick in a talking point about "old-fashioned democracy" too.