I agree that government transparency is our only real protection from influence peddling. Funny that ordinary people are supposed to have 'nothing to hide' where our invasive digital life is concerned, and yet we allow so much self-protective secrecy in the way our politicians and governments operate.

How about taxpayer funding an equal, modest  amount to each legitimate major party for each election to disseminate their platform? Then create real penalties for abusing this. it's got to be vastly cheaper than taxpayers funding even a few corporate paybacks for donations.