Money, Politics and Democracy. Your thoughts?

I continue to be shocked at the amount of money that's involved in USA politics. It borders on the obscene to me.
"Money talks" it seems and without it ... what?

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Northwest · M

The amount is ridiculous. However, the money is pretty much accounted for. This is what it takes, in the USA to get someone elected.

Zoranna · F

@Northwest Ridiculous is an understatement. How can you be sure it's accounted for? You seem to be resigned to accept the status quo. Oh well. I'm just watching from afar.

Northwest · M

@Zoranna

[quote]Ridiculous is an understatement. How can you be sure it's accounted for? You seem to be resigned to accept the status quo. Oh well. I'm just watching from afar.[/quote]

Believe it or not, the election system overall in the USA is not rigged. Financial filings are very heavily scrutinized and people can go to jail for messing with that stuff. So, yes, it's very well accounted for.

That is orthogonal to the final tally.

There could be ways to make this less costly, but they involve some serious changes that may run counter to some of the provisions in our Constitution.

The largest factor is election season length: 2 years. Every single candidate has to maintain a national presence, in all states. This means offices, people, support staff, pollsters, political consultants, media, etc. And when the election is over, that infrastructure is not dismantled, it's revamped for the next election cycle.

Everything else is peanuts compared to this.

It would even be more expensive, if you account for the volunteers' time.

Zoranna · F

@Northwest I never claimed nor ever believed it was rigged; I didn't even allude to it. I'm just, as I said, continually shocked at the exhorbitant sums of money involved. I do note your valid points, particularly about the volunteers, and agree; yours is HUGE country.

The election cycle in the USA appears to be continually ongoing. I say that slightly in jest but maybe that was because the amount of International coverage given to Trump. I do applaud that coverage though for many non Americans as it peeled away the pretence and veneer and showed him for what he really is: Incompetent, selfish, deceitful and corrupt. To watch him in person lie about something and then sortly thereafter deny that lie still bemuses me. I personally always knew what an absolute cretin he was long before he ran for office and was shocked that he fooled so many. Mind you with hypocrites like Lindsey Graham first against him and then his best buddy, and back and forth again, who can really wonder.

Good luck and stay safe. Once the debacle of the vaccine, delivery and implementation, is overcome hopefully things will slowly start to improve.

Northwest · M

@Zoranna [quote]The election cycle in the USA appears to be continually ongoing. I say that slightly in jest[/quote]

This is NOT in jest. Our election cycle is non-stop 24/7, year in, year out. This is what we are.

In regards to costs, I am simply being factual.

I am part of the last category to be vaccinate, so may not get the vaccine until May.

Donald Trump never had any clothes, but 74 Million Americans closed their eyes, and decided not to look. It is our shame.