So the candidates say they are worried about the financial crisis. Are they really? How can you be worried about there being no money and still take in and then spend hundreds of millions {not exaggerating} of dollars on getting elected?
The reported cost of campaigning for President has increased significantly in recent years. One source reported that if the costs for both Democratic and Republican campaigns are added together (for the Presidential primary election, general election, and the political conventions) the costs have more than doubled in only eight years ($448.9 million in 1996, $649.5 million in 2000, and $1.01 billion in 2004). In January 2007, Federal Election Commission Chairman Michael E. Toner estimated the 2008 race will be a $1 billion election, and that to be taken seriously, a candidate needed to raise at least $100 million by the end of 2007.
I understand T.V., radio and print ads are expensive – however, I would guess that the first candidate who steps up and says he is going to give $100,000,000 {or more} back to the system to help alleviate the current crisis would receive rave reviews, an unprecedented amount of “free” publicity…and they would probably gain a ton of votes at the same time.
Especially if they said something to the effect of: “I was considering spending another stack of millions to tell you how bad my opponent is, but instead I figured I would give the money to help our country in this time of need.”
They are always ranting about how they will “put the people of this country first,” but then they go around collecting from us so they can get elected! Umm…I don’t feel very first Mr. Candidate.
It’s like the people who constantly complain about being broke but buy every new thing that comes out and travel extensively. If you are poor and those are the reasons then stop buying stuff and stay home for a year. If you aren’t doing those things and you are poor – then I have less against you complaining.
And if the candidates are pulling from rich people and corporations – then maybe they could politely recommend those people give to the bigger picture…again, I think they would gain voter confidence and in turn, votes.
Anyways, I think I would pull for someone in office who was willing to ACTUALLY put us first.
Oh how I love politics.
Travis “these guys aren’t going to fix the system either” Schrock
What would 
