Campaign Funding

The Problems

“[M]oney in the political process has become an end in itself, and when money equals policy, the public interest is shut out. Where money equals policy, you have an auction, you don't have a democracy. The democratic system has been highjacked by special interest groups.

“The political system has broken down and is failing people. It's failing to prevent monopolization and the concentration of wealth. Government is supposed to be at least a referee. Well, in this case the referee has walked off the field.” [Or has been bought: Policies on health care, energy and polution, are set by and for CEOs of oil companies and HMOs, not by and for consumers and non-consumers.]
U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich interviewed in Yes! magazine

Negative Campaigns

In proportional systems, though, more than one person can win. If I spend all my time attacking an opponent, that doesn't mean I'll get anything for it. When there are 6 seats up for grabs, it doesn't make sense to bash other candidates, as some other third candidate might end up getting the votes from the candidate's supporters I have been bashing. If candidate A attacks candidate B, candidate C might get the votes from some of B's ex-supporters. Negative campaigning doesn't work as well.

When there are several contenders, hurting an opponent might not win votes for the attacker. A third candidate can gather supporters of the smeared candidate. If Alice attacks Boregard, Charles might attract Boregard's ex-supporters; they probably won't like Alice. Negative campaigning doesn't work well when there are several contenders.