Campaign Finance Reform

12/29/16 • -1 min

Student Podcasts: US Federal Government and Politics, Beloit College

By Beau Fountaine

On this riveting episode of my podcast I talk about campaign finance, focusing primarily on Citizen’s United and the fallout of that Supreme Court decision. I also explore the history of campaign finance in America from the mudslinging of the election of 1800 to the 2016 election, including a great speech from Vermont senator Bernie Sanders. I discuss possible solutions to the problems of America’s campaign finance system borrowing from Richard Hasen’s very interesting book, Plutocrats United: Campaign Money, the Supreme Court, and the Distortion of American Elections. I interviewed many of my peers and found something quite surprising.

In the spirit of liberal arts in practice I played my instruments several times for this project.

https://johnamcmahon.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/fountaine.mp3

References
Richard Hasen: “Plutocrats United”

Lucky Chops: “Best Things” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldshRnfI9xU

Imperial March: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bzWSJG93P8

Bernie Sanders: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CykwVD_f2sc

Seth Maket: https://psmag.com/just-how-much-of-a-problem-is-campaign-money-2fe54d9cc553#.900wd9sjv

By Beau Fountaine

In the spirit of liberal arts in practice I played my instruments several times for this project.

https://johnamcmahon.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/fountaine.mp3

References
Richard Hasen: “Plutocrats United”

Lucky Chops: “Best Things” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldshRnfI9xU

Imperial March: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bzWSJG93P8

Bernie Sanders: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CykwVD_f2sc

Seth Maket: https://psmag.com/just-how-much-of-a-problem-is-campaign-money-2fe54d9cc553#.900wd9sjv

Previous Episode

Voter ID Laws

By Carter Skolnick and Jesse Luong

In our podcast, we examined the connections between common Republican rhetoric of voter ID, low voter turnout within the American democratic system and voter ID laws. The legitimacy of American votes has become a central issue in the 2016 election with Trump making repeated claims and accusation of widespread voter fraud. However, this is not a recent issue since, in recent years, Republicans have repeatedly pushed for more restrictions on voting while justifying these restrictions by claiming they protect against “illegal votes.” We examined these allegations of voter fraud and their credibility alongside effects of voter ID laws on voter turnout. https://johnamcmahon.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/skolnick-luong.mp3

Next Episode

Marijuana in Modern America

By Ethan Perel-Wertman and Joel Feinerman

Marijuana in Modern America is an engaging podcast that takes the listener on a journey through the issue of marijuana legalization. Hosted by Joel Feinerman and Ethan Perel-Wertman, the podcast opens with the hosts providing an overview of the issue. Addressing things like the history of marijuana, social justice, and policy issues that surround marijuana.

Ethan and Joel are joined for this podcast by Professor M. Shadee Malaklou, a Professor of Critical Identity Studies at Beloit College who provides her expert opinion on the social justice aspect of marijuana laws and legalization. They are also joined by Professor Georgia Duerst-Lahti, a Professor of Political Science at Beloit College who provides her expert opinion on the policy aspect of marijuana laws and legalization. Finally, the hosts are joined by two anonymous Beloit College students, who provide a lay person’s perspective on drug culture here on campus and on the issue of legalization.

https://johnamcmahon.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/feinermanperelwertman.mp3