How did it evolve,that only the rich can run for political office?
By John
@mac1946 (1602)
Calgary, Alberta
September 27, 2009 8:41pm CST
I know many people in both the United Staes and Canada,that have very great idea's on how we can run the country far better than the types of people that are able to run for office only because they are rich enough to buy their way in,and have no real agenda other than getting richer off the tax payers.
I find that people growing up without the great amount of money,working to make ends meet daily,have a much better understanding of what is needed by all the people and would not allow the hardships we now find ourselves in.
Please give your thoughts on this.
thank you.
1 person likes this
4 responses
@ladym33 (10979)
• United States
29 Oct 09
Unfortunately campaigns take a large amount of money to run. Most rich people have rich friends who have money to spare to help with campaigns. The average person can count on their friends for $100 for support at the most because the average person just does not have that kind of money to give way for those sorts of things. So someone who is poor or middle class could certainly run, but it might be a lot more difficult for them to get the funds they would need to run a campaign. Sad to say but most politicians are wealthy.
@mac1946 (1602)
• Calgary, Alberta
31 Oct 09
Thank you ladym33,that is just what I would like to be able to get away from,that is the reason our countries are in as much trouble as we are,the rich only want to get richer and do not care who is hurt in the proccess.
My idea to beat this is that 1% of all income tax taken from each person is to be put in a special account to be distributed to anyone wishing to run for office to pay for media coverage.
I do of course know that this will bring out a lot of nut cases just to get the money,but there would be safeguards in place to stop this.
this idea is only a basic start and would need a lot of tweeking,but I know,there are many very smart people that would be great polititions if given the chance,they would also be far more interested in helping keep their country safe and free.
thank you for your comments.
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
28 Sep 09
It is interesting that many first time people are running for public office at the state level with very lettle money behind them. They are small business people and working class people who are looking to serve for one or two terms and then get out. I would like to see more if this.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
28 Sep 09
When We the People decided to ignore the issues and real lives of the politicians and believe the hype and rhetoric that only lots and lots of money can produce.
Just look at the last presidential campaigns. Nothing Obama had ever done in the past was supposed to matter at all... not his personal life or his voting record. On the other hand, everything about McCain was fair game, whether it had anything to do with politics or not. He was even forced to prove his eligibility to run even though (to anyone who has actually read the U.S. Constitution) he obviously was. Palin's entire political experience was supposed to be completely ignored, but the actions of her kids were supposedly "fair game".
It's inexpensive and simple to research the political history of any politician. It's expensive and complicated to create advertizing campaigns filled with innane "facts" that mean little to nothing in the end.
@mac1946 (1602)
• Calgary, Alberta
1 Oct 09
We all know that newspapers will do and write anything that will sell their rags,and when it is polititions and thier families,all is fair in war and politics.
I guess what I was actually trying to say,is why must it cost so much for advertizing that a person without a lot of money and does not belong to an established political party,cannot run for office?
thank you for your responce.
@bestboy19 (5478)
• United States
28 Sep 09
Welfare recipients have proven they can be just as greedy for the tax payers money as any politician. I don't think someone's wealth, or lack there of, should be the criteria for getting into politics. What I believe is needed are people who understand what it takes to run a country, men of industry, farmers, bankers, doctors, small business men, lawyers, anyone who has had to meet a payroll or balance a budget. These are the people I believe know what it takes to keep a country running smoothly.
