Campaign finance reform and the future of the Democratic party / Jerrold E. Schneider.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Schneider, Jerrold E.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Campaign funds--United States.

Campaign funds.

United States.

Campaign funds--Law and legislation--United States.

Campaign funds--Law and legislation.

Democratic Party (U.S.).

Physical Description:

219 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

New York : Routledge, 2002.

Summary:

"Campaign Finance Reform and the Future of the Democratic Party" offers a new interpretation of the dynamics of the American political system. Schneider explains how campaign finance reform would enable the Democratic Party to reverse the decades-long decline in their voter base. Reform would incentivize the Party to reallocate $1 trillion per year in contribution-driven waste to popular programs, without which the kind of progressive economic policies that have always energized the Democratic base will continue to be starved of resources. Schneider shows that, contrary to conventional wisdom, writing an effective reform law that can't be loopholed is feasible. So is a set of specific measures to force Congress to enact an effective law. In the end, reform holds the key to the democratic character and dynamics of the political system. Reform also holds the key to investments for future U.S productivity growth and the reduction of inequality.

Contents:

Chapter 2 Would Campaign Reform Work? 13

Chapter 3 The Decline of the Democratic Party 35

Chapter 4 Would Campaign Reform Yield Enough Money to Refloat the Democrats? 49

Chapter 5 Are Weak Parties Inevitable? 69

Chapter 6 Nine Party-Unifying Forces 79

Chapter 7 Are the Democrats Big Spenders or Big Investors? Inequality and Productivity 97

Chapter 8 Public Sector Investment 119

Epilogue: Is Campaign Reform Politically Feasible? 147

Appendix Two Prominent Campaign Reform Plans 155.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [201]-207) and indexes.

ISBN:

041593320X

0415933218

OCLC:

48557638