Letter: Politics shouldn't require loss of fortune

Published: Tuesday, June 19 2012 12:00 a.m. MDT

This is in response to "Money for campaigning" (Readers' Forum, June 12).

The Founding Fathers did risk their fortunes, their lives and their sacred honor from the time they signed the Declaration of Independence until the end of the Revolution. However, contrary to what has been implied, candidates for office in the U.S. are not required to take these same risks.

Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness (property), the presumption of innocence (sincerity), these are principles properly and more relatively associated with the Founding Fathers. It is un-American and unjust to suggest that Mitt Romney must be divested of the honest fruit of his labors obtained in "the pursuit of happiness" in order to prove his sincerity (innocence).

To state that "Romney needs to ... be impoverished if he loses" is to imply that the winner should be remunerated for his investment, which isasinine. I hope a reciprocal sense of justice does not suggest that if Romney wins, President Obama must leave the field an impoverished loser.

Tim Campbell

Taylorsville

Featured Comments

See all 9 comments »

JoeBlow

Far East USA, SC

Candidates should not be required to spend all their money.

Companies or individuals should not be allowed to put in enough money to sway an election.

Unfortunately, those on the left see no problem with Union or Soros money.
More..

5:36 a.m. June 19, 2012
Top comment

ugottabkidn

Sandy, UT

Why don't we start by requiring all donors donate in the light of day instead of the shaddows. And I mean all, including donations to super pacs. At least to start you could still see who will be expecting favors in January. By the way unions More..