☆ Swanee Edwards condemns dark money in local campaigns
Recently ousted SCC Dem Party member Swanee Edwards breaks down how financial inequalities have shifted the focus of local election campaigns — from addressing the real issues to getting enough funds to stay afloat. Her suggestion for reform also follows. An Opp Now exclusive.
Opportunity Now: In the wake of these controversies surrounding the SCC Dem Party, how can local advocates from all sides come together and pursue morally upright political campaigns?
Swanee Edwards: Until we get the money out of politics and find a way to encourage real leaders (not people with their own agenda), there’s something seriously wrong with what we’re doing. There’s currently too much of an emphasis on money, candidates just saying things to get elected. We’ve got to make the process fairer (e.g., each candidate starts out with the same amount of money, maybe from a fund by taxpayers). If things are financially equal, candidates would have to campaign on the issues that matter, not request people’s money.
I get so many texts by the hour from local candidates asking for my money; instead, they should be spending their time communicating to citizens about their plan, history, and asking for their vote.
The Citizens United v. FEC (under which corporations are now considered people and can contribute to political campaigns) was the biggest blow to democracy in my opinion. We’ve gone off the rails about what issues truly are. Everything has a political overtone now.
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This article is part of an exclusive Opp Now series on the SCC Democrat Party oustings:
Recently un-endorsed Gilroy councilmember Fred Tovar speaks with Opp Now about troubling mission drift in the local Dem Party.
Ex-Democrat Swanee Edwards unpacks the SCC Dem Party’s recent hypocritical actions.
Swanee Edwards breaks down how Dems’ codependent relationship with unions breeds anti-Khamis apprehension.
Swanee Edwards explains how financial inequalities have shifted the focus of local election campaigns.
Swanee Edwards analyzes the Gilroy City Council’s “dysfunctional” ways of operating, and how oversensitive political correctness is destroying local politics.
Image by olle svensson