Campaign finance reform is destroying the American political system, according to Rodney Smith.

“It’s undermining the whole fundamental fabric of American democracy,” he said. “People mistakenly think that money is the root of all evil, when in fact the lust for power is the thing the Founding Fathers were most concerned with.”

Smith, political consultant, fundraiser and author of “Money, Power & Elections: How Campaign Finance Reform Subverts American Democracy,” will visit Kansas University’s Dole Institute of Politics on Thursday for a lecture and book signing. The event begins at 7:30 p.m.

Smith maintains campaign finance reform with its contribution limits has weakened political parties, squelched free speech and made personal wealth and incumbency key to winning office.

“If you don’t have money, you’re speechless,” he said.

Smith thinks America should return to the system created by the Founding Fathers.

“Let’s go back to what they gave us and make it work,” he said.

A conservative Republican, Smith spent his own money researching the book and making sure it was published, he said.

“I didn’t write that book as a conservative Republican,” he said. “I wrote that book as an American.”

KU political science professor Burdett Loomis said Smith is operating from a kind of Libertarian perspective, in which money equals speech and there should be no restrictions.

“It’s a point of view,” he said, “but it’s only one point of view.”