There's nothing wrong with individuals or groups of citizens raising money to spend on promoting ideas and policies.  The issue some of us "reformers" are concerned with is campaign contributions that elevate the voice of a few within the policy making process at the expense of the many, the public.  Under public campaign financing healthy debate, ideas, facts and the public are more important than talking heads, ideology, junk science and well-heeled corporate special interests.

Mr. Parnell confuses the enormous problems of gutter level news coverage and horse-race political debate with the effect and goals of good government reform and good policy advocacy.  Fortunately, the netroots and the grassroots movement for change is growing stronger so there is an alternative to mainstream media.  We don't "bemoan the fact that private citizens" are involved.  We celebrate the diversity of voices in debate and policy making.  We think there should be many, many more.  Public financing will make that more important in campaigns.