In the Summer of 2000, two UK members of Childrens Express joined colleagues from America and Japan at the Republican Party National Convention in Philadelphia
| We have to believe that rights still exist in this country. Thats what keeps me ticking. |
America is moving in the direction of an oligarchy, where large corporations are gaining full control of the country by being able to buy off politicians through political contributions, according to Representative Jerrold Nadler (Democrat, New York).
He feels that a lot of changes have to be made to the way political campaigns raise money, and that campaign finance reform is connected to every other issue.
"Campaign finance reform is connected to every issue that we have because it determines how every issue is dealt with," he said, while attending the Shadow Convention at the University of Pennsylvania.
Campaign finance reform addresses the problem that there are a lot of large organizations that represent industries like the gun industry, or tobacco, or alcohol. These industries have lobbying groups with a lot of money. These groups give money to politicians so they can run for office. It takes a lot of money to buy political ads and to conduct all this hoopla. For example, the Texas delegation was giving out NRA key chains. The NRA gives a lot of money to Republicans to run campaigns.
Nadler said that if we cant pass some sort of campaign finance reform, democracy is in danger. He compared the United States to the Roman republic, which after about 250 years became an empire. Hes suggesting the same thing now, where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.
"[Vice President Al] Gore is addressing it because he has come out in favor of major campaign finance reform, including some sort of public financing, which I think is the only solution," said Nadler. "Bush has said exactly the opposite. Bush is taking the position that the only campaign financing we need is full disclosure."
Small businessman Rick Reinhert, who also attended the alternative convention, said he lost his business because of tariffs imposed by members of the Democratic Party, which accepted donations from a multinational corporation that competed with his. He believes true reform will start with the people.
"Grassroots movement and saying Weve had enough. Thats gonna happen," he said. "I was never a protestor. I am now. I believe in that. Everybody talks about Gen X not having direction, but I have renewed faith in Gen X because theres a lot of kids out there doing it because theyre fed up. They see there will be no future for this country if special interest does it. Therell be a two-class system: the rich and the have-nots. We cant let that happen.
"It wont happen. The American people are resilient. Theyll see whats happening. We have to believe that rights still exist in this country. Thats what keeps me ticking."
About the team
This article was produced by UK editors Sara Hawkins, and Philip Lockyer, 16, and USA editors Josh Kretman, 17, and Matthew Shopsin, 16. It was published on the CE USA website.
