We could set up the funds to be based on specific industries -- things like fossil fuels, guns, agriculture and medicine -- and invest both in those industries and in the politicians who can change laws to make the industries richer.
And when candidates declare that they're running, they would choose which fund they'll be exchanged on.
Instead of campaign contributions, voters would simply go on the market and invest in a particular candidate in a particular fund.
Different offices would be priced differently. Representatives would be penny stocks, and senators would be priced slightly higher. Senior senators would obviously trade for more than junior senators.
And once a piece of legislation starts generating profits for that fund, the profits can be distributed to the investers.
Another option would be take the politicians off the market and let the people invest in legislation directly, but trading would work basically the same way.
The richest Americans would still be able to invest more in the biggest ticket issues in either scenario, but at least normal Americans would also be able to invest and see their fair share of their politician's profits.
So that's one way to make the political market work for every American and not just the billionaires and corporate lobbyists.
But here's a better idea: Let's just take our democracy off the market altogether.
Because our politicians should be representatives, not investments.
Really -- it's time to repeal Citizens United and pass a Constitutional amendment saying that corporations aren't people and buying politicians is bribery, not "free speech."
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