Campaign finance and political polarization : when purists prevail

Resource Information

The work Campaign finance and political polarization : when purists prevail represents a distinct intellectual or artistic creation found in San Francisco Public Library. This resource is a combination of several types including: Work, Language Material, Books.

Label

Campaign finance and political polarization : when purists prevail

Title remainder

when purists prevail

Statement of responsibility

Raymond J. La Raja and Brian F. Schaffner

Creator

• La Raja, Raymond J., 1965-

Contributor

• Schaffner, Brian F., (Brian Frederick)

Author

• La Raja, Raymond J., 1965-
• Schaffner, Brian F., (Brian Frederick)

Subject

• Campaign funds
• Polarization (Social sciences)

Language

eng

Summary

"Efforts to reform the U.S. campaign finance system typically focus on the corrupting influence of large contributions. Yet, as Raymond J. La Raja and Brian F. Schaffner argue, reforms aimed at cutting the flow of money into politics have unintentionally favored candidates with extreme ideological agendas and, consequently, fostered political polarization. Drawing on data from 50 states and the U.S. Congress over 20 years, La Raja and Schaffner reveal that current rules allow wealthy ideological groups and donors to dominate the financing of political campaigns. In order to attract funding, candidates take uncompromising positions on key issues and, if elected, take their partisan views into the legislature. As a remedy, the authors propose that additional campaign money be channeled through party organizations - rather than directly to candidates - because these organizations tend to be less ideological than the activists who now provide the lion's share of money to political candidates. Shifting campaign finance to parties would ease polarization by reducing the influence of 'purist' donors with their rigid policy stances. La Raja and Schaffner conclude the book with policy recommendations for campaign finance in the United States. They are among the few non-libertarians who argue that less regulation, particularly for political parties, may in fact improve the democratic process."--Publisher description

Cataloging source

DLC

Dewey number

324.7/8

Illustrations

illustrations

Index

index present

LC call number

JK1991

LC item number

.L28 2015

Literary form

non fiction

Nature of contents

bibliography