I thought that the media hype over the conviction of former Queensland Minister Gordon Nuttall last week would have brought into question the regime of political donations and the obvious connotations of favour-buying and corruption inherent therein. http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=2925

But apart from the odd mention in some behind-the-news analyses, it hasn’t gone anywhere. It seems that the cosy relationship between big business and government is as strong and as secure as ever.

Numerous times on this forum I have expressed my abject disgust at this enormous and blatant corruption, which really does mean that our country is governed with the vested interests of big business very prominently placed in the psyche of our decision-makers.

This sits at stark odds with the basic responsibility of government to direct us towards a sustainable future.

Mark O’Connor, author of ‘Overloading Australia’, had something to say about this in a speech he gave a few days ago - http://www.population.org.au/. Move forward to the 27th minute (and then listen to his whole excellent presentation).

To quote him;

“It is illegal to give your shareholders’ money to a political party if you do it out of political enthusiasm. That’s a misuse of the shareholders’ money. It is only legal to do it if you’re getting something back in return. If you are getting decisions out of government in favour of your company that you could not have got by making reasonable representations to the government, then it’s not illegal. But then it’s a bribe isn’t it? Oh no because you are only giving it to the whole party, not to an individual politician!”

So how do we escape this incredible trap whereby political parties are largely beholden to, or at least very strongly swayed by, the wishes of the business lobby? How do we abolish donations and implement neutral funding for political parties? How do we make government accountable and unbiased…and be seen to be so?

I've heard that in Canada, all political parties are funded from the Public purse and private donations are illegal.

Oops, I should have checked first.

Individuals can contribute a maximum amount per calendar year but corporations, unions and organizations can't contribute at all.

http://canadaonline.about.com/od/federalelections/a/contributions.htm

Very good Wobbles.

Canada has a ban on contributions from corporations, unions and organisations to parties and candidates.

Yep, it is all just sooo easy and simple. They saw the need to abolish this donations regime and the terrible bias or perception of bias that went with it. And they actually managed to do it…..which is quite amazing, given the enormous vested interest that government has in receiving big donations.

Good on them.

If they can do it, Australia can do it.

So now it is up to Rudd to follow suit. And quickly.

I am absolutely against corruption, particularly when it is targetted at influencing government action for the benefit of individuals or corporations.

Having said that, I am also fundamentally against the concept of taxpayers wearing the costs of running political parties.

The tax I pay will inevitably be used to fund parties whose policies I find abhorrent. Where's the fairness in that?

Thomas Jefferson said, and I agree with him, that "To compel a man to furnish funds for the propagation of ideas he disbelieves and abhors is sinful and tyrannical."

Canada expends around $20 million a year in this manner, year in, year out. It goes to "political parties". who attract a motley crew of hangers-on to milk the public teat without producing anything of value.

Is that what we want?

I would prefer to see the problem addressed from the opposite angle.

Where someone is found guilty of corruption - bunging for favours is as much corruption as accepting the bung - they should expect significant jail time, rather than the slap-on-the-wrist that passes for punishment these days.

Sharpening up the law to eliminate any grey areas should be the priority, rather than find yet another offensive way in which to spray around my hard-earned dollars.

Jefferson also said:

"Democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

"Working" for a political party is not a form of work that deserves payment. A better approach would be to forbid political parties from paying wages at all.

They wouldn't then need much by way of financial support at all, thus removing the need for "party donations", and exposing all contributions as personal bribery.

“Yep, it is all just sooo easy and simple”

Huh? Did I write that? I think that should have been something like; ‘Ýes, it is all very simple, at least in theory’ !

.
Pericles, you wrote;

“Having said that, I am also fundamentally against the concept of taxpayers wearing the costs of running political parties.”

Well, what are the alternatives?

Of course I am disgusted at having my tax dollar used for purposes that I profoundly disagree with.

But perhaps if political parties were entirely funded from the public purse, there would be a chance…just a chance…that they’d come to govern this country in a half-decent manner….and use my tax dollar much more wisely.

Besides, the average taxpayer shouldn’t have to pay any extra. Maybe we should just basically restructure monies currently given as loans into a tax. Afterall, if so many big companies can afford to give big donations, then they can obviously afford to pay the same amount in increased taxes!

“I would prefer to see the problem addressed from the opposite angle. Where someone is found guilty of corruption - bunging for favours is as much corruption as accepting the bung - they should expect significant jail time…”

But all donations and favours are corrupt, because the donors absolutely do it with the intention of swaying decisions in their favour…not by reasoned argument, but by bribery. Your suggestion wouldn’t even be tinkering around the edges of the problem, it would just be straightening up the proverbial deck chairs a little. Or am I misunderstanding you?

“Sharpening up the law to eliminate any grey areas should be the priority…”

For sure! Well, certainly one of the priorities.

“ ‘Working’ for a political party is not a form of work that deserves payment”

Eh?? I can’t agree with that.