Josh @ Jan 29, 2010 – 9:36 am:

I’m glad your CLA is run by the angels, but it’s just barely possible that other organizations could be formed and solicit funds for messages, that might skim 80% off the top for overhead. No reason they should be more efficient than parties or candidates organizations.

Nope. No angels in the group, but then again our system was designed for men, not angels.

And you’re right – there’s no reason to trust a group like CLA (although our agenda is pretty transparent, and it’s a donor-driven organization, so we have a strong incentive to be efficient). But why would you believe – in the absence of any evidence – that parties would be as or more efficient? After all, they’ve been operating as a duopoly for more than a century, and have erected a series of laws to protect themselves from real competition. As a rule, long-term duopolies protected by the government are rarely efficient. Do they appear efficient to you?

And as far as candidates go, how are the existing group working out for you? They got to where they are through the current system; are you comfortable the results?

Look, in all seriousness, I encourage you to engage in the political process in whatever way you feel will get the best results. If you’re happy contributing to parties or candidates, go for it. (I even encouraged direct support of a specific candidate above.) But for months folks have been complaining about state of our nation, the need to take the initiative, be creative, shake up the established order. And I describe a group that has come together to attempt to do that.

Your response? It speaks for itself.

Cheers,
L3