Ed Broadbent's Proposal for Political Contribution Reform

Calgary - Thursday, July 25, 2002 - by: Jason Inness

corporations,
unions and
interest
groups
I have just heard Ed Broadbent's proposal for political contribution reform and I must say, I like what I hear. I have always believed that corporations, unions, and interest groups should be barred from making political contributions on the principle that a democracy should serve the people, not the interests of those trusted with the financial well being of an organization. Merely belonging to a union does not make you an NDP supporter, just as owning shares in a corporation does not make you a supporter of any of the other parties. Yet these groups give money, which does not belong to them in the first place, to the political party of their choosing, to advance a cause which may not be shared by their members/owners.

force
attention
toward
individuals
It is my understanding that the Province of Quebec decided, quite some time ago, that donations would have to come from individuals instead of large groups. This had the effect of forcing Quebec political parties to listen and involve more individuals, and thus become more populist, more democratic in nature. If this effect was realized in Federal political parties, we, the people, would experience what we have not tasted in some time - government for the people, by the people. In fact, this small reform could trigger larger democratic reforms that would modernize our antiquated British Parliamentary System.

bribery
Of course, any reform of the current contributory system will meet with resistance, most notably from those organizations who fear losing influence with their political puppets. This begs the question: if business and unions fear losing influence because they cannot donate money to politicians, are they not admitting that the purpose of a donation is to influence decisions making, not because they believe in the platform of their candidate? There is, of course, another word for this type of "contribution": BRIBERY.

Jason Inness

References:

Commission calls for end to political contributions by corporations
Last Updated Wed, 30 Jan 2002 18:29:11 , CBC



Calgary - Thursday, July 25, 2002 - by: Jason Inness

corporations, unions and interest groups	I have just heard Ed Broadbent's proposal for political contribution reform and I must say, I like what I hear. I have always believed that corporations, unions, and interest groups should be barred from making political contributions on the principle that a democracy should serve the people, not the interests of those trusted with the financial well being of an organization. Merely belonging to a union does not make you an NDP supporter, just as owning shares in a corporation does not make you a supporter of any of the other parties. Yet these groups give money, which does not belong to them in the first place, to the political party of their choosing, to advance a cause which may not be shared by their members/owners.

force attention toward individuals	It is my understanding that the Province of Quebec decided, quite some time ago, that donations would have to come from individuals instead of large groups. This had the effect of forcing Quebec political parties to listen and involve more individuals, and thus become more populist, more democratic in nature. If this effect was realized in Federal political parties, we, the people, would experience what we have not tasted in some time - government for the people, by the people. In fact, this small reform could trigger larger democratic reforms that would modernize our antiquated British Parliamentary System.

bribery	Of course, any reform of the current contributory system will meet with resistance, most notably from those organizations who fear losing influence with their political puppets. This begs the question: if business and unions fear losing influence because they cannot donate money to politicians, are they not admitting that the purpose of a donation is to influence decisions making, not because they believe in the platform of their candidate? There is, of course, another word for this type of "contribution": BRIBERY.

	Jason Inness

*References:*
	Commission calls for end to political contributions by corporations Last Updated Wed, 30 Jan 2002 18:29:11 , CBC