CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM

Of course, the McCain-Feingold bill has the effect of limiting political speech and political participation, by fixing the game so that only the two established major parties can play. But it goes beyond that - placing restrictions on new ads has the effect of killing potentially insurgent campaigns, over-protecting incumbencies, and limiting the political choice of citizens in elections. That's the kind of practice associated with third-world countries. It's hypocritical, because the very people who sponsored and voted for the legislation have already figured out their own ways around the law, and unfortunately that will be the true legacy of John McCain.

You know what the most effective campaign finance reform would be? If you were really looking to reduce the influence of big money in government, what would be the best thing to do? Try cutting down drastically on new legislation. You'd have less in the way of issues over which special interests fill the pockets of politicians, and as a result those interests would have considerably less equity in what has become a polluted system - continuing to perpetuate itself, and leaving principled people like Libertarian Party candidates out in the cold.