FREE AIRTIME FOR POLITICIANS
A majority of the money spent in political campaigns is spent on advertising. The candidates with the most money have the loudest voices, drowning out ordinary people running for office. The bad taste from negative ads tends to turn people off. Consequently they lose the motivation to vote.
Most other countries don't allow negative ads. Some countries, such as Brazil, have dedicated equal TV time for each politician to speak. This way voters can learn about each candidate and what they really stand for on a level playing field.
ACTION STEP
Ask your local TV station or newspapers to allow all candidates to get equal airtime before an election where they can speak directly to the people about why they are running for office.
LEARN MORE
Our Democracy, Our Airwaves has more info.
Should Candidates Get Free TV Time?
What we have now: Equal Time Rule
Dolloracracy, by John Nichols and Robert McChesney
HOW DID POLITICAL DEBATES IN THE U.S. BECOME A TWO-PARTY AFFAIR?
The League sponsored the Presidential debates in 1976, 1980 and 1984. On October 2, 1988, the LWV's 14 trustees voted unanimously to pull out of the debates. On October 3rd they issued a press release condemning the demands of the major candidates' campaigns:
"The League of Women Voters is withdrawing sponsorship of the presidential debates...because the demands of the two campaign organizations would perpetrate a fraud on the American voter. It has become clear to us that the candidates' organizations aim to add debates to their list of campaign-trail charades devoid of substance, spontaneity and answers to tough questions. The League has no intention of becoming an accessory to the hoodwinking of the American public."
—League President Nancy M. Neuman, LWV October 03, 1988