Monte Asbury excerpts a recent interview with Clean Elections champion Jim Hightower on his blog, and notes with enthusiasm the promise inherent in the working Clean Elections programs in states like Arizona, Maine, and most recently Connecticut.

The interview with Hightower was in connection with his new book on positive developments in America, which includes the states with public financing of campaigns, and it's hard to argue with the enthusiasm here from Mr. Asbury:

 

Imagine it! How different would US politics be if private money weren’t involved! How different would US law be if corporations could not fund campaigns! How different would the slate of candidates be, if one didn’t have to be rich to run! How different would our itch for war be, if munitions-makers and oil brokers didn’t elect candidates! How different campaigns would be, if candidates weren’t begging for money!

We don't have to just imagine it -- by uniting behind efforts like the Fair Elections Now Act introduced in the Senate by Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) we can bring public financing of elections to Congress. And by supporting current Clean Elections efforts in places like Maryland and Iowa, we can expand the roster of states where candidates can seek office free of the big money chase.