Cox discusses how political campaigns are influenced by money contributed by special interest groups. He notes how campaign expenditure figures have grown over time, putting political candidates in greater need of private funding. Cox condemns the evils brought to government by the candidates' acceptance of private funds, which obligates them to protect the interests of those contributors rather than the public interest. Cox also cites several past laws and legislation that helped to control private political contributions. However, he insists that more reforms and laws are needed to preserve the government's ultimate purpose of responding to the common interest of its people.