The Japanese government has tried to do that by limiting the number of days you can campaign, the number of speeches you can give, the types of places you can speak, and the number of handbills and bumper stickers you can print. And it limits each candidate to one megaphone. The Japanese have effectively slashed the cost of campaigning. But they have also made it extremely difficult for opponents to make their cases against incumbents. The leading party in Japan has ruled that country for all but about three of the last 55 years.
Polls show the governing party is unpopular.
But when election time comes, the opposition is restricted in its ability to make its case. The proposals we are considering in Congress are different, of course, but can have a similar effect. These include voter registration drives, efforts to mobilize voters, to disseminate political views and to draw distinctions with opposing candidates. These party activities are most important for challengers. It's challengers who most need help from political parties help that the parties finance through soft money.