We need a Constitutional Amendment that reverses Citizens United and permits limits on the total amount any individual can contribute, and we need federal legislation that defines the exact limits and penalties.
The objective is to cast a net that does not hinder access or free speech, but blocks any flow of cash or rewards that would influence the mission Congress has, i.e. representing the people.
Medea: Should there also be an electoral strategy?
Doug: Yes, while I will support the overall movement, I also intend to pursue an electoral strategy of getting real reform candidates from both parties elected to Congress. This is viable if voters will realize that none of the issues they care about will be accomplished without reform first. Getting voters to understand this is possible if groups - from the AARP to Veterans of Foreign Wars - recognize that the electoral power of their membership is more than offset by the power of money in politics, and that money has contempt for seniors, veterans, and a host of other groups.
Medea: What has been the reaction to your flight?
Doug: Many people think I'm crazy, Senator Lindsey Graham, for one. But that's ok. Most people have been tremendously supportive. I've received lots of messages from regular folks like me who have been inspired to take action to end corruption in Congress. I think that as a result of the flight, doors will open for me so that I can be more useful in advancing the state of humankind.
Medea: Did you lose your job at the post office because of this?
Doug: At the moment, I'm on paid leave and not allowed to work. I'm not allowed in the building without advance notice but of course being under house arrest makes that irrelevant. If I'm tried and acquitted, the US Postal Service might let me back or they might not.
Medea: What will happen at your hearing?
Doug: The hearing will not determine anything but I expect the prosecutor will bring charges, one felony, one misdemeanor with a risk of 4 years in jail. The judge may set a trial date at that hearing. I expect I will be released on my own recognizance to house arrest in Florida after the hearing until the court date.
Medea: Do you think your message resonates among the public?
Doug: What we need, what I want, already resonates among voters across the political spectrum. Independents, Libertarians, Liberals and Conservatives all like what I did. My role in the future, if I have one, is to be a recruiter for the greater reform movement, without favoritism for any single group or path to reform.
Medea: How likely is it that we can significantly reduce the influence of money in politics?
Doug: It's as unlikely as my flight. No, it won't work as planned. Just like my flight--a lot of things after take-off did not go as planned and I had to improvise along the way. Some of my plans will fail miserably and other avenues I haven't thought of will open up. Adaptability is key.
My flight was never intended to resolve the issue - for me it was the opening kick-off. The game has only begun for me, though others have been trying to move the ball for years. My stunt, and it was only a stunt, opened the subject for millions who have been vaguely aware and unhappy and haven't considered how they can change the score.
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