Monday, September 8, 2008
Cost of America decides...
I was reading about the American presidential campaign when the cost of it reminded me of a comment that one of my colleagues said. The amount that each of the candidates have to raise is ridiculous. According to opensecrets, the eventual amount that each nominee have to raise to compete is... $500 million. Yes, $500 million. So 2 nominee is $1000 million. Imagine that amount of money. What about candidates that lost? Like Hillary Clinton, who raised $200+ million. It's such a waste of money imo. Can't they simplify their process so that these money can be put into something more worthwhile such as finding a cure for aids?! or they could help the 3rd world countries?! I think with $500 million, u can bail out a lot of these poverty countries. Sheesh. Instead their money is spent on media campaigns slaugtering their opponents... such a waste >_<
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1 comment:
Well, I think we have to be careful about judging the expense of the American democratic process and take note of what it represents. Sure each candidate has raised an incredible sum of money, but this is in the richest nation in the world after all. Furthermore this is, in theory, money that people, or companies, donated to them, not people's taxes. I don't think there is anything wrong with a person giving money to a candidate who they hope will look after them in their years to come over giving money to a charity which will more than likely have no impact on that person's life in the foreseeable future.
That said, if a candidate is given all this money it should be spent in a way that it is expected that this money be spent (in getting them elected), not given to special interest groups.
I think the American democratic system is flawed and I think the amounts of money involved are a problem (but for different reasons), however I think the ideas behind it are admirable and are sorely lacking in a lot of places around the world.
Lastly, at the moment the US seems to be going through a rough economic patch, so at least if a phenomenal amount of money is spent during the election, this money is being spent within the economy and, in theory, should provide a boost. :)
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