Saturday, September 26, 2020

Get Rid Of The Big Money



Everywhere, it seems, politics is corrupted by big money. That certainly has been the case in Ontario. Martin Regg Cohn writes:

Back in 2016, after a series of columns exposing the wild west of Ontario fundraising, the previous Liberal government clamped down on the worst abuses — so that politicians from all parties could cater to voter interests, not pander to vested interests.

But Doug Ford’s Tories unilaterally diluted those reforms after they took power two years later, revoking public financing of political parties (modest “per-vote” subsidies based on most recent election results). Now, COVID-19 has changed the equation.

Fundraising is falling on deaf ears because ordinary Ontarians are out of pocket. Which leaves deep-pocketed developers whispering in the ears of desperate politicians.

Cohn believes that it's time to re-instate the per vote political subsidy:

With the benefit of hindsight, the premier has every reason to restore the “per-vote” allocations that he unilaterally phased out (scheduled to end next year). And with a little foresight, Ford could go even further in leading a cleanup of dirty money.

The perfect storm of a pandemic is the ideal time for the premier to curb excessive campaign spending, better reflecting the virtual world of COVID-19. Why allow parties to spend (and therefore raise) as much as $10 million for a provincial election campaign that amounts to overkill?

Amid COVID-19, we are entering a new world of political outreach and campaign marketing that is more digital than ever before. The premier could make the best of a pandemic by forcing all politicians to collectively clean up their act — with sharp new limits on how much they spend to grease their lumbering campaign machines.

The old fashioned way of funding campaigns is very costly:

All those sumptuous fundraising dinners are obscenely inefficient ways to attract donors — with big sums (and fine wine) poured down the drain to keep the cash flowing, while politicians waste time prostituting themselves.

As for those costly and clunky whistle-stop campaigns, they are whistling past the political graveyard. Just ask Ford, who ditched the traditional “leader’s tour” in the 2018 election, forsaking the customary chartered aircraft and customized bus, while eschewing the companion “media bus” laid on (for a hefty fee) for travelling reporters. The leader’s tour tends to be a “loss leader” for parties keen to get “earned media” (coverage), but most cash-starved outlets dropped anyway (the Star was often one of the few organizations to tag along).

The pandemic has forced many changes on us. But a change in the way we finance political campaigns could be a blessing:

Image: brazilian.report


8 comments:

Toby said...

The per vote political subsidy may not be perfect but it's much better than letting Big Money dominate our politics.

Owen Gray said...

I agree, Toby. Money talks. And the more concentrated it is, the louder its voice.

Anonymous said...

"With the benefit of hindsight, the premier has every reason to restore the “per-vote” allocations..." From Cohn, that's uncharacteristically naive. Ford didn't get rid of the per-vote allocations to keep dirty money out of politics. He got rid of them to kneecap the other parties knowing that his party is the greatest beneficiary of dirty money!

Ford is running the Harper playbook. Don't count on him to do the right thing by democracy.

Cap

Owen Gray said...

Ford is a strange figure, Cap. He came in using the standard Conservative playbook. Then came the pandemic. After being booed in public, Ford put on a kinder and gentler face. That makeover is now under scrutiny.

How much sincerity is behind it? We'll soon know.

the salamander said...

.. apologies re my bluntness.. but I truly believe we need to lead the WORLD re political donations and delete it 'evermore' (said the Raven) .. It should be understood I stand for community driven nominations riding to riding. I know folk in our riding I would nominate. Let school kids design and paint the 'vote for me' signs.. ZERO subsidy.. they get a soft icecream cone. Every single $ examined for verifiable receipt and cannot be more that 20 bucks. Get caught cheating (i.e. unable to verify) and disqualified .. its over Rover.. you are out

Single term.. paid handsomelyie your scale.. ZERO pension.. and cannot become a Senator ever. Thus a carpenter or educator or doctor or nurse is paid promptly - full rate for their single term service. We already know via the wondrous Ms Rempel Garner that you can be an Honorable MP based in Oklahoma or in a blue pickup truck or cutting meat in Ponoka or setting lobster traps in the Northumberland Straits.. but for two years you are 'on the road to find out' and must report your findings.. with hard copy and no American sellout 'NEWS' like PostMedia pimping you, paid in backroom 'rainmaker' black ops

Canadians like us can back this play.. We aint stupid, lazy, careless or racist. I may not agree with much of the Greek population or Muslims flooding into this riding.. but I will go to the bitter end that their 'say' is the say.. I see cricket bats and hockey sticks on the same porch and lotsa running shoes. Amen.. Put a potato bag over your head and shout you're a FEMINIST.. I have your back, side, and front covered. Knock on our door you will be heard without interruption.. I have a memory.. do not need some printed bumph..

I want to see 20 year olds run, teachers, truck drivers, plasterers and nurses fried by COVID-19 - scientists, housewives, sanitary engineers, trans, queer, lobster fisherwomen and unemployed bartenders and waitresses, people not named Joe who have no idea who the F I am.. I want them hungry to take away the paycheque we dump in the septic tank of Denise Batters or Pierre Poiievre.. i.e. real people hammered by 'job churn', Covid closures, Healthcare slashing.. Albertans, PEI, Ontario, NWT.. Not 'preferred' Party people pimping ever expanding Economy.. subsidies & misc malarky out their ass

Owen Gray said...

"Real people hammered by job churn." I couldn't agree more, sal.

Trailblazer said...

Big money begets big money and as time goes on the super rich control what we hear read or express opinions of.
Whilst we may see some local but insignificant victories , nothing short of revolution will change our world.
Our greed for an easy life showed our failure many years ago.
Our current hopes of youth making change amounts to nothing as they are generally brainwashed to believe in the status quo.
Our youth are so in debt that they will never, in numbers, challenge the status quo.

TB

Owen Gray said...

I agree that our young people are drowning in debt, TB. It's a fate they don't deserve. But perhaps their anger at being handed such a fate will lead them to challenge the powers and personalities who put them where they are.