Campaign limits fail, violate our free speech

"...dam this roaring river of cash, Where do these candidates get so much money?, Campaign caps good for state", so says the News-Leader editorial board. My only request is - show me one place campaign limits actually worked.

From previous limits in our state to McCain/Feingold campaign finance reform, it hasn't worked. It's just like socialism. It sounds good, but the results are all the same -- failure.

Here's the kicker, the News-Leader says it believes in the 1st Amendment -- Congress shall make no law... prohibiting the free exercise; or abridging the freedom of speech... Makes me wonder... Is it just their speech they don't want government to restrict? (Missouri has a Free Speech Amendment, too.)

I will answer their two main questions: What inspires someone to give thousands -- and more -- to a candidate? and Isn't it logical to conclude that they expect something in return?

(1) People are inspired to give money to protect their interests. It's disingenuous to compare the salary of an office to what an election costs. Those low-salaried elected officials control millions and billions of taxpayer dollars.

When government controls nearly every aspect of our lives, takes our money and gives it to another, people are going to get involved. The solution is not regulating what you can give, but limiting what government can take and spend.

(2) Yes, it is logical to expect something in return. I expect the candidates whom I support to live up to the ideals and values they express on the campaign trail. There are crooked people and politicians who will try to exploit the system for gain, but those activities are already illegal as we've seen with several politicians being arrested last year.

As an elected official, I don't like being outspent in a campaign, but, as mommy said, Life isn't fair. (By the way, I've been outspent by my opponents every election to date.)

Changes could be made with campaign reporting, but it is clear, the Constitution protects freedom of speech. I could go into more detail, but my speech is limited by the News-Leader's ability to buy paper and ink with advertisers' dollars.