Only Way - Restore Democracy and Reclaim American Dream in 2026
(Campaign Finance)
By William E. Bardwell, MBA
Co-author: “Validating Truth in the Era of Misinformation and Fake News”
THE PROBLEM:
Our democracy is at a tipping point. It is veering toward authoritarianism, and the American Dream is slipping further out of reach. Why? Because for many Americans, democracy no longer feels like it’s working. People are struggling financially, working multiple jobs just to keep up. Anger is growing—and with it, a dangerous willingness to ignore the rule of law in pursuit of change.
WHAT’S REALLY HAPPENING:
From 1965 to 2023, wage inequality in the U.S. has skyrocketed. CEO pay has grown exponentially while average workers' wages have stagnated. On top of that, the cost of housing has soared over the past decade, leaving many families financially stretched.
While frustration is often directed at the administration or wealthy elites, the root cause of the current crisis is systemic: the 2010 Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC. This ruling allows corporations, unions, and special interests to spend unlimited amounts of money on congressional elections.
The flood of outside money has reshaped our political system. Candidates now depend on vast sums to win elections—funds largely controlled by corporate PACs, Super PACs, lobbyists, political parties,i. and the ultra-wealthy. As a result, legislation passed by Congress since 2010 disproportionately favors these major donors over everyday Americans. Whether Republican or Democrat, candidates are supported by the same wealthy donors, ensuring that whoever wins, the influence of big money remains intact.
WHY CHANGE IS NECESSARY:
Removing the influence of money in congressional elections will bring numerous benefits:
Independent Representation: Without relying on special interest funding, lawmakers can vote based on conscience and the will of their constituents—not party pressure or donor demands.
Legislative Progress: It would reduce gridlock in Congress and allow action on widely supported policies, including:
Common-sense gun laws (58% support stricter laws)
Immigration reform (66% support stronger border policies and tighter asylum rules)
A living wage (65% support raising the federal minimum wage to $15/hour)
Stronger union protections (70% support unions)
Fairer taxes (79% support raising taxes on the wealthy and large corporations)
Ending congressional insider trading
Antitrust reforms to promote competition
Other benefits include reducing political polarization, protecting Medicare and Social Security, tackling fraud and waste in government programs, reducing housing costs, and restoring faith in democratic institutions.
THE SOLUTION:
Let’s be honest: Congress will not voluntarily limit the role of money in elections. Calls for term limits and campaign reform have echoed for decades, yet the net worth of members of Congress continues to rise—even though their base salary has not.
A new approach is needed—one that puts the power directly into the hands of the American people.
We propose a national movement: i.e.) America Speaks Out.
We suggest asking every voter to sign a pledge:
If Congress does not pass legislation by September 2026 that requires the federal government to fully fund all federal elections—and bans all other sources of campaign funding—we will vote out all incumbents in the 2026 election, regardless of party or campaign spending.
HOW PUBLICLY FUNDED ELECTIONS WOULD WORK:
To run for a federal office, candidates must first gather a minimum number of signatures to demonstrate support. This phase would be self-funded. Once qualified, each candidate would receive equal government funding for each stage of the election. No private donations, no outside money.
Campaign funds must only be used for election activities.
All leftover funds must be returned to the government.
State and local governments would provide free public forums for candidates to speak.
Media would be invited to cover these events to inform the public.