Is the role of money too big in election campaigns?

[Boojatta]

Given the amount of time voters devote to watching television, and the cost of television advertising, it may be perfectly reasonable under the circumstances for candidates to be raising and spending a lot of money.

How does the money in election campaigns compare to the total national spending by ordinary women for cosmetics, perms (permanent curling or permanent straightening of hair), etc? Of course, this may be perfectly reasonable spending under the circumstances. My question is: what has created those circumstances, and what might change those circumstances?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

1. I would ban TV ads for election campaigns

I would only allow those which gave there policies straight without any prejudice against the other candidate(s).
In other countries they don't spend that much on campaigns.

[ddeclue]

2. It depends on what you mean by "election campaigns"...

School board races and small city council races can often be run for just a few thousand dollars in many areas of the country.

Here in the Orlando area:

School Board - $10k to $50k
Orlando City Council - $50k
County Commission - $80k to $150k
Sheriff - $200k minimum
Orlando Mayor - $400k
Orange County Mayor - $500k
State House Rep $200k minimum
State Senate Rep $300k minimum
Congress - $1.5M minimum
US Senate (FL)- $10M minimum
Governor FL - $10M minimum
POTUS - $400M minimum

based on recent elections and the rate of growth.

You don't have to spend a lot of money for dog catcher but bigger offices cost more money to win because you have to reach more voters. The money IS a problem but I don't know what can be done about it as long as Congress continues to go along with the existing situation and the SCOTUS wants to call money "speech".

[blues90]

3. The role of money is too big in everything

It can buy anything because everything has a price.

I think politics should be restricted and equal . If a candidate cannot get their views together and debate on policy that means something then get the hell out of here and take your damn money and cram it.

I have never seen such a long and expensive show as this last election let alone expensive. The damn things could have paid for healthcare for five years.

I don't care who it is running , we need to get it real and end this american idol complex horse shit , and I did sy I don't care who it is . These are politicians not gods or grand above everyone else people of great depth and glory.

They should also remove all the cameras from the capital and senate , these people put on the show , lets just hear what they have to say and let it not be a visual talent show.

[Old Codger]

4. My idea on this

It isn't really the amount of money involved, although that is really obscene actually, but the fact that this huge amount is required and the sources of it being the problem, buying influence is what it is all about. If there were some realistic campaign finance reform were the pols were getting their money from the people they would not be beholden to anyone but the voters which is as it should be... At this time it is bassackwards

[Captain Hilts]

5. Yes. But since so much was raised the last cycle, don't bet on anyone in DC opposing it. nt

[notesdev]

6. Money is a problem, BUT...

The real problem is who the people who get elected are representing. They are supposed to represent their district.

Where the junction with money comes in is that a candidate can get endless amounts of money from people outside their district.

This leaves the field open for those with enough money to buy other peoples' representatives. Corrupt your own, that's the business of the people in your district. But when you come to my district and steal my representation away from me, that nearly rises to the level of an act of war.

My solution is to ban acceptance of any and all donations from all corporations, across the board (they are not citizens, representatives are not there to represent them), and ban donations to any candidate from any individual who cannot actually cast a vote in that election. To make it effective the burden has to be on the candidate to obtain reasonable proof from every donor that each and every donation is from a legitimate source, with criminal penalties and loss of office as a result of failure to strictly adhere to this standard. We ought to have zero tolerance for corruption and the appearance thereof.