This is not surprising. Indeed, one of the central premises of this handbook is that real reform is not something that can be achieved overnight. Unfortunately, there is no quick fix when it comes to fundamentally altering the long-standing relationship between private wealth and political democracy. Our long habit of not thinking it wrong, or anti-democratic, to depend on private money to finance public elections is a prime example, and changing such a habit will take time. Given that real reform is a long-term proposition, it is all the more important that reformers think carefully about what it is they really want to achieve.
Private money affects, or infects, democratic politics in other ways as well.
Although beyond the scope of this handbook, any comprehensive reform effort must also close these channels of private influence. Finally, it should be noted that what follows is meant to address the issue of private money in state and municipal politics as well as at the federal level. Not only are the problems of privately financed elections just as rampant there as in Washington, but the most far-reaching attempts to bring about real reform are currently taking place at the state and local levels.