ABSTRACT
Money has always played a prominent role in American politics. Reasonable people may disagree over whether its influence is greater or less than in the past; but today, thanks to laws requiring extensive disclosure of campaign contributions, it is clear that money, not votes, is the primary currency of democracy. First comes the need to concentrate public attention on the role of money in politics and on all of the problems it creates. Achieving a democracy where average people have as much chance to win office as the rich will be a straggle at ever stage. Winning Clean Money campaign reform at the federal level will be a huge victory that will transform the calculus of politics. Equal access to the media, same-day voter registration, fair ballot access for third-party and independent candidates, and some form of proportional representation or instant-runoff voting will still be needed to fully open the system.
