There are so many people that hate government. Those on the left think government does too little, those on the right that think government does too much and those in the middle think government just doesn't do. There is an ever growing feeling that elected officials don't represent their constituency; their elected officials have lost touch. There appears to be many reasons why the body politic has lost faith in their government. Most of these reasons have pictures of dead presidents.
In the 2008 Presidential election the Obama and McCain campaigns combined spent over $1 billion. During the 2010 elections winners in the House of Representatives spent an average of $1.6 million for a job that pays $174,000 annually. In the Senate, 2010 election winners spent an average of $3.1 million for a job that pays $174,000 annually. Based on a 2002 Census Bureau study lifetime earnings for workers in the US are between $1 million and $4.4 million based on level of education. So anyone can grow up to become President (or Senator or Rep) as long as they have the wherewithal to raise more money than most people earn in lifetime. I don't run with that crowd and I'm not sure those in that crowd can properly represent me.
The answer is simple. The USA must enact campaign finance reform, specifically publicly financed elections for all US offices and all state Governors. Since the people that have the largest vested interest in maintaining the status quo are the very same people that would enact reforms, the chance of any meaningful movement to control the cost of elections is nil. The idea that the inmates are running the asylum leads many to hate government. They may very well be right.
The answer is simple. The USA must enact campaign finance reform, specifically publicly financed elections for all US offices and all state Governors. Since the people that have the largest vested interest in maintaining the status quo are the very same people that would enact reforms, the chance of any meaningful movement to control the cost of elections is nil. The idea that the inmates are running the asylum leads many to hate government. They may very well be right.
National March for Jobs, April 2, 2011.
ReplyDeleteCome On Midwest, We're Not Gonna Take It Anymore! Join us to remind our elected officials and the nation that we are not going to sit back quietly while our jobs go overseas and more and more people enter the 99er realm! We need HR 589 to be passed, and we need JOBS!!!!!
www.99ers.net/chicago
Brenda,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment. You're absolutely right. Perhaps the only way to fight the large amounts of money in politics is to be active and show elected officials the path.