Paper One
The wisdom of freedom of speech, of religion and of the press is invaluable to the individual but intolerable to the despot or tyrant. Simply stated in the 1st Amendment to our Constitution these rights are the bedrocks of a free people. A purpose of the governing of a people who enjoy the rights of the U.S. Constitution is to protect the population against the forces that would oppress them. A history of industry is not kind to the majority of a population and relates a story of the profits of a few on the backs of the many. From child labor, terrible and sometimes lethal work conditions, eliminating competition toward a monopoly, long hours for paltry pay and even at the extreme; slavery. Industry can be the opposite to the bastion of freedom.
Socialism! The industry screams to the crowd, and the crowd, in the belief that capitalism is freedom and socialism is evil, fights back. All the time not considering that absolute capitalism is as unworkable in the interest of human nature as is absolute socialism. It is the job of governing the economy of a free people to strive for the correct balance between the two. Regarding capitalism there should be competition, and in areas where competition is not reasonable, several different sewage systems run by different companies in a single town is ludicris, there is controlled socialism. Money is necessary in both but should not be allowed to sway our leaders one way or the other outside the interests of the affected population through manipulation of the affected population's representation.
Consider a scenario where a person owns or manages a company in a city where they live. They want to add a factory but the factory may be hazardous to the local environment and this person certainly does not want to live in a hazardous environment. Much better to build the factory in someone else's backyard. NIMBY. Under current rules this individual can directly and indirectly support different candidates in other towns and cities who will align with that person's corporate intersts in exchange for financial support via campaign contributions. This citizen, using both personal and corporate funds, has influenced a distant campaign against the interests of the local citizens.
Consider now a scenerio where the elected official cannot be financially influenced by anyone or anything outside their district or state including donations or assistance regarding election or reelection, no emoluments as a gift of support and they cannot be unfairly influenced by one citizen over another due to aquired wealth. They will be free to represent their contituents and carry out their charge from the constitution. Not absolute socialism, not absolute capitalism, a dynamic chance for a more perfect Union.
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