Every two years in America I am simply blown away by the egregious amounts of money raised and spent on political campaigns. A recent report estimates that "$167 million [has been spent] on independent expenditures, electioneering communications and internal communications" thus far. If we add in the amount of money spent by political party committees and the candidates themselves, I'm guessing we're in the neighborhood of $300 million!
Just think how such a large amount could be spent on so many needed things. What if we used that money to address poverty, homelessness, mental illness, job creation, climate change, infrastructure improvements or education? While we certainly wouldn't solve any specific problem with such an outlay, we could greatly lessen the negative ramifications.
What's even crazier about this whole system is that, if you ask almost any bona fide candidate WHY he or she runs for elective office, the answer almost always is that the individual wants to serve the public. So, I've got to ask a rather obvious question: Does it serve the public good to waste so much money on TV ads, mail fliers and feted dinners?
Just think how such a large amount could be spent on so many needed things. What if we used that money to address poverty, homelessness, mental illness, job creation, climate change, infrastructure improvements or education? While we certainly wouldn't solve any specific problem with such an outlay, we could greatly lessen the negative ramifications.
What's even crazier about this whole system is that, if you ask almost any bona fide candidate WHY he or she runs for elective office, the answer almost always is that the individual wants to serve the public. So, I've got to ask a rather obvious question: Does it serve the public good to waste so much money on TV ads, mail fliers and feted dinners?
i look at it differently. i'm amazed that special interests get to write the rules to get special privileges for such a bargain basement price. eg, total up the amount the financial services industry donated to all campaigns over years, and divide by the $700 BILLION bailout, along with all the other special favors (eg, rewriting the bankruptcy laws, changing the mark-to-market rules, etc, etc.) the payback in tens of thousands to one.
ReplyDeletemy opinion is, campaign finance reform would not solve the problem. we'd just end up with large corps getting the special privileges without even paying for it, and with much of the public even less aware when there was an election, or any contended issues. (or smarmy political ads to tarnish the reputation of the politicians -- just think how much worse off we'd be if the public had a high opinion of congress!)
nor would term limits likely solve the problem. then we'd just end up with long-term bureaucrats making the real decisions, with a constant flux of congress-persons above them with too little understanding, and too little time to learn the tricks before getting booted out of office.
unless/until the notion of "equality before the law" means that it's illegal to give some corps/industries special favors, then we're likely to continue with the corruption.
--sgl