It's kind of asking for trouble to hang your argument for a reduced role of private money in politics on Stephen Colbert's short-lived presidential campaign and Fidel Castro's insights on democracy but this is still an interesting criticism of the campaign finance system from Bill Spaulding, a high school student and member of the Elmira Star-Gazette student editorial board.

Examining the various costs of running for office (which tripped Colbert up), and the requirement to take money from special interests to finance that run, Spaulding wonders who can really afford to run for office:

Although general elections offer public financing options, many candidates pass that up so they can avoid limits on contributions and accept lucrative donations from major corporations and special-interest groups. This leads to candidates trying to be loyal to their donors and forgetting about the average person who does not have thousands of dollars to give to a candidate to influence political decisions.

[. . .]

Cuban dictator Fidel Castro recently criticized the role of money in the U.S. elections. He said, "Being rich and having the support of a lot of money is what matters the most there." He continued to say the money is spent on "brainwashing" the few Americans who still go to the polls. Though I do not agree with Castro on most issues, he makes a valid point. The way elections are financed is a major threat to the American style of democracy.

I don't think it's brainwashing that happens -- more that the influence of private money in elections exerts influence over what issues get debated and what legislation goes forward. The sense that candidates aren't responsive to the concerns of ordinary voters feeds into voter apathy that manifests itself in low turnout at the polls.


Spaulding goes on to offer his support for full public financing of campaigns, and cites Democracy Matters' Executive Director, Joan Mandle, on the low cost of a Clean Elections model of public financing.

No word on Colbert's support for such a program. Perhaps he's still licking his South Carolina wounds.