Richard Esenberg's Project of Campaign Financa Reconstruction

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Recommended: Interest groups and their influence on public policies

Marquette University’s Assistant Professor of Law, Richard Esenberg, is doubtful of the effectiveness of a project that will restructure campaign finance. He foresees the near impossibility of passage of a bill, along with many drawbacks to the attempts to miraculously restore democracy to American citizens. Although, this is a greatly debated and doubtful topic, there is hope in the power of the people. While there may be instances where wealthy donors provide a better election, in a land of the people; these people should control the few that run the government.

Esenberg’s beginning argument relies strongly on the evidence that the money spent on campaign finance is relatively small compared to “movies, automobiles, and beer”; and campaigns are arguably much more important (Esenberg, 2010). Donors purchasing influence in government have strong motives and many ways in which to make their influence present. To stop these donors, with the amount of current media outlets; is a seemingly daunting task. When it comes to the topic of Campaign Finance Reform, most will readily agree that it will benefit democracy in America. Where that agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of the degree of how it plans to do so. Whereas some are convinced that a reform will have profound effects on voting, Esenberg maintains that it would be unlikely for it to produce further democracy amongst voters (Esenberg, 2010).

On the other hand, a sociological view of contributing is that contributions may be best understood as “gifts” rather than “purchases”, according to Clayton Peoples of the University of Nevada Sociology Department. With this understanding, the contributions are more symbolic than their actual value. This undermines Esen...

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...ment. It is hoped that, contrary to what Madison may have believed, that the candidates will follow the interest of the majority and not the interest of themselves and where to majority of money is imbedded.

Works Cited

Esenberg, Richard. “THE LONELY DEATH OF PUBLIC CAMPAIGN FINANCING.” Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy. 33.1 (2010): 283-332. Web. 19 February 2014.

Peoples, Clayton. “Campaign Finance and Policymaking: PACs, Campaign Contributions, and Interest Group Influence in Congress.” Sociology Compass. 7.11 (2013): 900-913. Web. 19 February 2014.

Spencer, Andrew. “CLEANING ELECTIONS.” Arizona Law Review. 54.1 (2012): 277-309. Web. 19 February 2014.

Teachout, Zephyr. “Facts in Exile: Corruption and Abstraction in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.” Loyola University Chicago Law Journal. 42.1 (2011): 295. Web. 19 February 2014.

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