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Jesse Gordon on Government Reform

Editor-in-chief, OnTheIssues.org

 


Reform campaign finance to stop protecting incumbents

Q: Citizens United, a 5-4 Supreme Court decision, resulted in enabling the wealthiest people and largest corporations in this country to contribute unlimited amounts of money to campaigns. This decision must be overturned and corruption in politics must end. This means fighting to pass a constitutional amendment making it clear that Congress and the states have the power to regulate money in elections. We must also eliminate super PACs and other outside spending abuses and work to aggressively enforce campaign finance rules.

A: Agree.

Candidate's position on this issue: Campaign finance reform should focus on fighting the system that protects incumbents and the wealthy; realistically the only solution is public campaign financing.

Source: ORMA questionnaire on 2018 Massachusetts governor race , Jul 31, 2017

Why require in-person voting? Why register? Why Tuesday?

Q: In order to protect our democracy, we must fight for a publicly financed, transparent system of campaign financing that amplifies small donations. We must also ensure that all Americans are guaranteed an effective right to vote.

A: Agree.

Candidate's position on this issue: On the right to vote, every restriction should be questioned: Why require pre-election registration at all? Why require in-person voting? Why Tuesday?

Source: ORMA questionnaire on 2018 Massachusetts governor race , Jul 31, 2017

Supports “judicial activism”; judges should be subjective

Q: Should the Supreme Court be “activist” or self-restrained in its application of the constitution?

A: I’m all for judicial activism. I think that justices should decide issues using their subjective judgement, within their interpretation of the Constitution in their times.

If we extend the “self-restraint” argument to its logical conclusion, we would hardly need a Supreme Court at all -- a computer could apply the Constitution to each case and determine the answer that best fits. Such “objectivity” is never really objective -- it’s equally subjective as my version, but pretends to be objective to hide its bias. Let the justices express their subjective views -- they always have the opportunity to fully explain themselves anyway. “Self-restraint” in the current political environment means the same thing as a conservative interpretation.

Source: Issues2000.org, “America Asks About Politics: Issues” , Apr 11, 2000

Other candidates on Government Reform: Jesse Gordon on other issues:
Former Presidents/Veeps:
George W. Bush (R,2001-2009)
V.P.Dick Cheney
Bill Clinton (D,1993-2001)
V.P.Al Gore
George Bush Sr. (R,1989-1993)
Ronald Reagan (R,1981-1989)
Jimmy Carter (D,1977-1981)
Gerald Ford (R,1974-1977)
Richard Nixon (R,1969-1974)
Lyndon Johnson (D,1963-1969)
John F. Kennedy (D,1961-1963)
Dwight Eisenhower (R,1953-1961)
Harry_S_TrumanHarry S Truman(D,1945-1953)

Religious Leaders:
New Testament
Old Testament
Pope Francis

Political Thinkers:
Noam Chomsky
Milton Friedman
Arianna Huffington
Rush Limbaugh
Tea Party
Ayn Rand
Secy.Robert Reich
Joe Scarborough
Gov.Jesse Ventura
Abortion
Budget/Economy
Civil Rights
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Crime
Drugs
Education
Energy/Oil
Environment
Families/Children
Foreign Policy
Free Trade
Govt. Reform
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Health Care
Homeland Security
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Tax Reform
War/Iraq/Mideast
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Page last updated: Oct 27, 2021