Lets not be like the Americans (Political party funding)

Member Name: magpie

Product:	Political party funding
Date:	02/02/01 (12 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: None

Disadvantages: Spin doctoring and no political debate

Politics is our second favourite soap opera, after the Royal Family. In the glamourous tradition of Dallas, it involves big money, scandal, and Peter Mandleson waking up in the shower discovering the last few weeks were all a dream (or so he may hope!)

The point I am making is that politics, big business, and cash are nowadays inseperable. The political machines feed on money for advertising, campaigning, and spin doctoring. Similarly, big business now needs political influence to gain advantage over their competitors. Hence mutually beneficial deals are developed such that the two spheres become symbiotic.

Is this a bad thing though?

We can look to America for an example of what happens when money and politics become intimately entwined. Of the new Bush cabinet, over half are millionaires. This isn't unusual in American politics, but the real concern is that they all have their money from the same source - oil.

In the states it is impossible to be a politician unless you are rich. This is because of their theatrical style of campaigning - high on style and thin on substance.

I am convinced that in the UK we want to avoid this 'presidential' style of elections. We want to carry on the tradition of anyone - no matter what their financial background - being able to stand for election. I don't want the country to be run by fat-cats who don't care about the little man.

In order for anyone to be able to stand, the political parties need to be able to fund campaigning, and so they need cash donations. Fair enough. Am I in favour of large donations to political parties then?

Well - yes and no. I don't think the real issue is the size and/or origin of donations to political parties. Instead, I think the real issue is where the money is spent.

Unlike in the states, I want the country to avoid the theatricals of campaign tours, televised debates, and glamourous wives
hugging cute babies. Instead, elections should consist of well argued policy. While there is so much money sloshing around, the real issues of elections, the way in which the country is run, becomes instead issues of who has the nicest suit, the best spin doctors, and is 'media friendly'.

What then is the solution?

The way in which political parties spend their money should be monitored closely. At local elections, the amount of money spent campaigning is limited by law. I would extend this to all campaigning done by a national party - the cost of billboards, TV ads, and national leaflets should all be reported, and limited by parliament. Then parties influence wouldn't be as easily bought, and the issue of where the money comes from would be less important, and the electorate could concentrate on the real issues of who will govern the country in the best way.

Summary: