The Solution to Laffey's Problems

As most know, Mayor Laffey has been doing a commendable job of outlining the tens of billions of dollars in pork that is earmarked by the Republican controlled Congress. I can about guarantee if we placed ten people in a room to come up with ideas where we could better invest our tax dollars, we'd be better off. It takes our elected officials to listen and act.

This issue is nonpartisan because all of these funds are from the taxpayer cookie jar and we get to say (with our votes) what our elected officials will and will not spend our money on - not special interests and not lobbyists. The public also gets to say how much we are taxed and who pays their fair share - not just the wealthiest contributors.

This is where candidates and incumbents run afoul and we let them. The media machine uses the amount of funds raised as score cards when it ought to clue the public in to who is going to get access and who won't. There are few who don't accept these kinds of funds - they're big but with big strings attached.

I endeavor to spend my time communicating and less time pandering for dollars. Isn't that what representative government is supposed to be? It comes at a price because I have more difficulty getting my message out to middle class families who want to know they'll get a fair shake even if they can't shell out a weeks' take home pay for a contribution.

The remedy is really quite simple and one I fully support - $6. If every American spent $6 a year to fund future federal elections we'd save over $200 annually in "pork". The $15 Billion subsidy to the oil companies would be gone - that's $50 right there. Similar "deals" apply to the drug industry that contributes to higher health care costs. The same goes for costs of education. Seeing a theme? Education. Energy. Healthcare. Had enough? It's our turn.

Think of it. Full time representation of, for and by the people. 24/7. It will give us American ingenuity and common sense among our best and brightest who would otherwise never consider running for office - for $6 per person per year. Check it out. www.just6dollars.org