Election Reform

For people in Mason County and adjoining counties, tomorrow is election day. I do care that you vote, but I don't care who you vote for. Neither candidate has been forthcoming on the issues. Maybe there'll be a block allowing us to vote for "Neither of the above!" That would send a message, wouldn't it?

I know that we have a lot of problems which need attention. On the national scene, President Obama feels that health care is the number one priority. And, since he's in charge for the time being, it's his prerogative to pick and choose what the country needs to address first.

There is one problem which I think takes precedence - Election Reform. The cost of getting elected to federal office, House or Senate, is astronomical. A candidate for Congress can expect to spend $1 million dollars or more for a seat in the House of Representatives. Senate races cost $4 to $6 million. And the question always is, "Where does the money come from?" Well, it comes from donors, some of whom simply want to see their candidate elected. But most of it comes from people who want something in return, and that's trouble.

While most of us are not politicians, it's not hard to understand that you would find it very hard to vote against something that a major donor wants. Because, the next election is right around the corner. And if you want to be re-elected, it will take even more money. So, how will you vote? Because of the expense of campaigns, with all their TV ads, full pages in the newspaper and balloons and on and on and on, you simply can't afford to ignore your donors' interest.

Government finance of elections is supposed to be a question which Republicans are against and Democrats are for. Truth of the matter is, I doubt that either party is very enthusiastic about seeing the government finance elections. Why not? Almost anybody, Democrat or Republican, who has already been elected has a long list of big donors. The guys who might run against them don't have a long list, if they have a list at all. Maybe this is the reason that Obama can't make this a priority: He knows it doesn't have a chance!

But you can rest assured that until our Senators and Representatives don't have to beat the bushes for contributions, the money will continue to talk. And what the money says is not always in the country's best interest.