Let KSL Forever Change American Politics

One oft-used blogspot is being retooled. Or will it be eliminated altogether? KSL today paused availability of the comment boards at the end of its online news stories, noting posts tend to get inflammatory and disrespectful. It asked readers for input, and I suggested screening the posts the same as talk radio screens its calls.

I have started using the Salt Lake Tribune's comment board for campaigning, and was about to use the KSL boards. It hasn't done me much good, though, as my the pool of Tribune bloggers might not be those likely to vote for me. As I wrote KSL, by posting at the end of news stories, "I am campaigning among the belligerent."

Perhaps KSL could target its comment boards away from the disrespectful. And, by screening out so many blogs, maybe the blogs left would be better read -- as a soul can only read so much, anyway -- and you could leave the ones making good, salient points.

Then, I got thinking along the lines of a entirely new type of KSL comment board, one for us politicians.

And, I wrote them this:

Hmmm. Have an idea. And, I appeal to the innovator in you portrayed in the makeover of you and the Deseret News. For all our lives and longer, politicians have depended on the mighty dollar to let voters know they exist. Unfortunately, for long as elections have been around, those wanting favors have often been the ones contributing to the candidates. A snippet of corruption built right into the political system? And, it's America's political system, at that!? However can this be? Fortunately, as the age of the Internet dawned, it dawned on someone that campaigning could be moved from the commercials and billboards to a free, open-to-all-politicians-equally online forum.

And, as quick as that, the man with the dollar was no longer the man with the advantage in a political campaign. Poor men began to be elected with greater regularity throughout all the land.

The mighty dollar stubbed its toe, and special interests were banished from the land. And, America was America once more.

Well, maybe a little dramatic, and a little much, but there is more than just jesting in what I say. American society has long saw that our current system of financing campaigns is flawed. Otherwise, we would not be calling for campaign contribution limits and campaign disclosure statements. But, disclosure statements don't keep those who are giving from asking for favors after the election. They only make what they are doing more transparent. Rather than just making a wrong transparent, it sure would be nice if we came up with a way to remove the dollar from the ballot box, altogether.

KSL, this is an opportunity to do something good. It may not lead to the real election reform that I am imagining, but it would be a worthy undertaking.