Yesterday, retiring Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) gave his farewell address to the U.S. Senate, a chamber he has served in for three decades.  Here’s the part that struck us here at Public Campaign: I will begin by stating the sadly obvious: Our electoral system is a mess. Powerful financial interests, free to throw money about with little transparency, have corrupted the basic principles underlying our representative democracy. And, as a result, our political system at the federal level is completely dysfunctional.  Those who were elected to the Senate, just a few weeks ago, must already begin the unpleasant work of raising money for their reelections six years hence.  He’s right. Our elections are more squarely in the hands of an elite few than ever before. And as the cost of running for office continues to rise, fueled by an onslaught of outside money, candidates have to spend more time raising money and less time talking with voters. The donors get the access and influence and everyday Americans are left out of the process. Our government---once of, by, and for the people—is now bought and paid for by special interests.  Sen. Dodd, a long-time supporter of efforts to reduce the influence of special interests in Washington, D.C., is also a co-sponsor of the Fair Elections Now Act, legislation that would sever the ties between big money interests and members of Congress.