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Hi, Fred: <br>
<br>
<br>
How much to common citizens pay for our current "privately
financed" political campaigns? <br>
<br>
<br>
People who think they don't pay anything if they don't contribute
are exceedingly naive. On May 22, Nancy and Sally said that the
citizens of one state (one of the Carolinas?) got a rebate totaling $50
million, if my memory is correct, on insurance premiums after the first
insurance commissioner elected by a publicly finance campaign took
office. That election cost the taxpayers between $2 M and $10 M; I
can't remember the numbers, but the return on investment from public
financing in that one example was at least $10 for every $1 spent. <br>
<br>
<br>
Over the past half century, the price of sugar in the US has
averaged just over double the world price.(a) Research 20 years ago
indicated that the sugar lobby reaped $3 billion of excess profits from
this on $2.6 million in campaign "contributions".(b) That's well over
$1,000 for ever $1 invested in political campaigns. With that kind of
return on investment, it's no small wonder that the inflation in the
cost of political campaigns far exceeds the rate of inflation in the
economy as a whole. As I mentioned on May 22, this would not work if
the media from which most people get their world view honestly reported
the story. However, media that accept advertising will not do that for
two reasons: First, they will lose revenue from the big industries
whose corruption is exposed. Second, they charge political campaigns
substantially more than standard commercial accounts, and stand to lose
substantial sums on election years if the public ceased to be
influenced by them. <br>
<br>
<br>
*** DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW TO GET THIS INFORMATION TO NANCY AND
SALLY? I tried to send an email like this to an address at their web
site but did not get a reply; they may not have received it. I think
this makes an incredibly strong case for Prop 15. <br>
<br>
<br>
Best Wishes, <br>
Spencer <br>
<br>
<br>
#################<br>
(a) US Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, Tables 3
and 4 (<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/Sugar/data.htm">http://www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/Sugar/data.htm</a>), accessed
2010.05.29. <br>
<br>
<br>
(b) Philip M. Stern (1992) Still the Best Congress Money Can Buy
(Regnery Gateway). <br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
On 5/29/2010 11:35 AM, fred wrote:
<blockquote cite="mid:4C015E6A.2000206@freeshell.org" type="cite">Our
phone number corrected: 650-691-1215
<br>
<br>
Fred
<br>
<br>
-------- Original Message --------
<br>
Subject: Prop 15 PreElection Event
<br>
Date: Sat, 29 May 2010 11:06:48 -0700
<br>
From: fred <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:fredd@freeshell.org"><fredd@freeshell.org></a>
<br>
To: South SF Bay Discuss at CA Greens
<a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:sosfbay-discuss@cagreens.org"><sosfbay-discuss@cagreens.org></a>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
DEAR FRIENDS,
<br>
<br>
Palo Alto YES on PROPOSITION 15 Area Coordinator Nancy Neff and former
<br>
State Assemblywoman Sally Lieber will be speaking at our house (Unit
<br>
45), or our spacious Willow Park Condo Clubhouse, depending on the size
<br>
of the crowd, on Sunday, June 6, 7:00 - 8:30 pm.
<br>
<br>
YOU ARE INVITED to meet and hear Nancy and Sally and to enjoy a Sunday
<br>
evening of congenial chat topped off with dessert, coffee and teas.
<br>
<br>
You are also invited to bring friends. (We would appreciate your
<br>
replies so we can pre-estimate the size of the attendance.)
<br>
<br>
We're looking forward seeing Our phoneto you on June 6.
<br>
<br>
With warm regards,
<br>
<br>
Fred and Lois Duperrault
<br>
500 W. Middlefield Rd., #45
<br>
Mountain View, CA 94043
<br>
650-691-1215
<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:fredd@freeshell.org">fredd@freeshell.org</a>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<pre wrap="">
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</blockquote>
<br>
<br>
<pre class="moz-signature" cols="72">--
Spencer Graves, PE, PhD
President and Chief Operating Officer
Structure Inspection and Monitoring, Inc.
751 Emerson Ct.
San José, CA 95126
ph: 408-655-4567
</pre>
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