You never would have guessed that I would give my life for saints/sinners Soros and Hatton! Indeed, John and George will always be my heros; even beyond my grave. (smile) Please note this one teeny, tiny step closer to a less corrupt world. 1996 was the year the one and maybe only uncorruptable politician and genius painter, John Hatton, escaped from NSW politics. It was also the year Open Society Institute’s Programs began one of the foundation’s central efforts to improve the functioning of democracy and, in particular, to promote an understanding of the influence of money on politics and to explore solutions that reduce this influence. OSI’s long-term goals have been to reduce the corrupting influence of very large donors to political parties and candidates, to increase public trust and participation, and to open the system so that candidates without access to financial resources can be heard by voters.

Plague of Worldwide Corruption
The consensus seems to be that political corruption is so rampant and detrimental to the American political body that any measure to slay this monster is welcome. The NY Times ran an editorial titled “ A campaign finance triumph ” and blithely noted:
The Supreme Court delivered a stunning victory for political reform yesterday, upholding the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law virtually in its entirety. The court rejected claims that the law violates the First Amendment, making it clear that Congress has broad authority in acting against the corrupting power of money in politics. The ruling is cause for celebration, but it should also spur Congress to do more to clean up our political system.
· Good Case [ via NYTimes ]
· Campaign Finance [ courtesy of Soros ]