Unfree speech : the folly of campaign finance reform / Bradley A. Smith.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Smith, Bradley A.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Campaign funds--United States.

Campaign funds.

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

Physical Description:

1 online resource (301 p.)

Edition:

With a New preface by the author

Place of Publication:

Princeton, NJ : Princeton University Press, c2001.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

At a time when campaign finance reform is widely viewed as synonymous with cleaning up Washington and promoting political equality, Bradley Smith, a nationally recognized expert on campaign finance reform, argues that all restriction on campaign giving should be eliminated. In Unfree Speech, he presents a bold, convincing argument for the repeal of laws that regulate political spending and contributions, contending that they violate the right to free speech and ultimately diminish citizens' power. Smith demonstrates that these laws, which often force ordinary people making modest contributions of cash or labor to register with the Federal Election Commission or various state agencies, fail to accomplish their stated objectives. In fact, they have worked to entrench incumbents in office, deaden campaign discourse, burden grassroots political activity with needless regulation, and distance Americans from an increasingly professional, detached political class. Rather than attempting to plug "loopholes" in campaign finance law or instituting taxpayer-financed campaigns, Smith proposes a return to core First Amendment values of free speech and an unfettered right to engage in political activity. Smith finds that campaign contributions have little corrupting effect on the legislature and shows that an unrestrained system of contributions and spending actually enhances equality. More money, not less, is needed in the political system, Smith concludes. Unfree Speech draws upon constitutional law and historical research to explain why campaign finance regulation is doomed and to illustrate the potentially drastic costs of efforts to make it succeed. Whatever one thinks about the impact of money on electoral politics, no one should take a final stand without reading Smith's controversial and important arguments.

Contents:

Front matter

Contents

Preface

Chapter 1. Introduction

PART I. THE COST OF CAMPAIGNS AND THE PRICE OF REFORM

Chapter 2. Money Talks: A Short History of Campaign Spending, Regulation, and Reform

Chapter 3. Faulty Assumptions of Campaign Finance Reform

Chapter 4. The Folly of Reform: Consequences of Campaign Finance Regulation

Chapter 5. Some Problems with the Solution of Government Financing

PART II. CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS

Chapter 6. Money and Speech

Chapter 7. Money and Corruption

Chapter 8. Money and Equality

PART III. REAL AND IMAGINED REFORM OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE

Chapter 9. Unfree Speech: The Future of Regulatory "Reform"

Chapter 10. Real Equality, Real Corruption, Real Reform

Notes

Bibliography

Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [259]-277) and index.

ISBN:

9786612087455

9781400824717

1400824710

9781282087453

1282087452

9781400814701

1400814707

OCLC:

355834865