Campaign Finance

I need to vent about something, something that you will disagree with.

On average, It takes more money to win an election in the U.S. than just about any (if any) other country, and the costs have been skyrocketing in the past decade. This is great!!!!

consider this story.
Bob's burger palace and Henry's hotdog empo' are major rivals in a major metro area.

Bob soon decides to advertise, he spends money but gains customers.

Henry immediately takes out ads reminding people that Bob got a C- from the health department, Henry spends money, but he's only returned the customers he lost.

Now Bob is angry, so he takes out ads telling people that Henry's dogs are not all-beef, like his burgers; Bob has spent even more money- but he has less customers than when he started, because everyone knows about his C-.

Guess What Henry does next?

So what are we left with?

Bob and Henry have spent lots of money (jobs for advertisers, income for papers, et cetera).
Bob and Henry have taken away from eachother as much as they've gained for themselves.
All the consumers are now more informed about both vendors.

So the next time you complain about campaign finance and low voter turn out, look at where you get your information when it comes to deciding on your vote, and ask yourself "who has a greater vested interest in pulling up dirt on the Republican party: an independent investigative comitee, or the Democratic party."
I'm believe Tom DeLay has something to add-
"... this is a happy day for me, though admittedly perhaps not as happy as it is for some of our old friends on the other side of the aisle." (Farwell address)

Money feeds the business of elections. The business of smearing your oponnent and coming out clean; so why does everyone want to clean up the mud wrestling? It doesn't get rid of the mud, it just lets it dry- and then sweeps it under the rug.