Description
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.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments 1. Introduction 2. Would Campaign Reform Work? 3. The Decline of the Democratic Party 4. Would Campaign Reform Yield Enough Money to Refloat the Democrats? 5. Are Weak Parties Inevitable? 6. Nine Party-Unifying Forces 7. Are the Democrats Big Spenders or Big Investors? Inequality and Productivity 8. Public Sector Investment 9. Conclusions 10. Epilogue: Is Campaign Reform Politically Feasible? Appendix: Two Prominent Campaign Reform Plans Notes References Index
