AND JUSTICE FOR ALL

The photo at left is that of "Lady Justice" taken at an unknown (to me) county courthouse somewhere in the U.S.A. Both the scales to balance fairness, equity of rights and truth, as well as her sword to enforce it, have been stolen from her by vandals many times in the past few years. They've even cut off all the fingers except her thumb on the left hand that held the scales. She has been hit in the back of her neck by an axe and her scars are still visible. Meanwhile, she remains stoic in hopes of the return of her most valuable possessions. It just seems all too surreal to me, such is this metaphor for the removal and destruction by our government of those things so very precious to us.

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Following is the report of a national poll taken recently in regards to the public financing of funds for elections. Anyone who has listened to me knows I support such measures, and have discussed them so much it's likely very old news to those who know me best. For that reason, I place the following poll, along with the website that holds it and other information and links that provide a pathway to knowledge on this subject. To me, it may well be the single most important and perhaps only way to take back control of our precious country.

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Poll: Overwhelming Support for Publicly Financed Elections

A new national poll finds overwhelming support (74%) for public financing of elections, the result no doubt of soaring campaign costs, lobbyist scandals and the desire for fairer, cleaner elections.

The result is bipartisan with eighty percent of Democrats, 78% of Independents, and 65% of Republicans support this reform.

What's important to emphasize is why voters said things would improve with public financing of elections.

• 82% of voters believe it is likely, as a result of publicly financed elections, that candidates will win on their ideas, not because of the money they raise.
  
• 79% said it would allow candidates with good ideas rather than just the rich and powerful to have a shot at winning elections.
  
• 77% said that special interests would not receive as many favors, tax breaks and deals from politicians.
  

This last point is important. Public financing of elections are NOT a policy that will increase government spending; in fact, it's almost guaranteed to pay for itself many times over with less tax and government contract giveaways and more honest, cheaper services. 77% of the public recognize that our present system of legalized bribery costs the public every day, so replacing it with public financing will be a cost-saver.

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Please take the time and effort to look at the link below, and any other information you might discover, and then... please get involved. We have duties to perform before we sleep.

http://www.progressivestates.org/blog/300/poll-overwhelming-support-for-publicly-financed-elections