Are There Better Ways to Spend Campaign Finance Money?

Photo of capital courtesy of morguefile.com
Laguna Woods, California
June 20, 2017 9:54am CST
Today, Georgia is holding the most expensive House of Representatives election in U.S. history. Our last presidential election also set spending records. More and more money is being spent on U.S. elections every year. When I read about the amount of money being spent per voter, much of it for negative ads, I wonder if this is the best use of the money by the major political parties. First, the vast majority of Americans get tired of watching the ads ... often fast forwarding through them, when possible. Second, even after spending hundreds of millions of dollars a year on election advertising, especially during presidential years, it still comes down to which party is able to get their voters out to the polls. On election day, the party leaders sit helplessly by and hope their voters show up. Perhaps there is a better way. What if the political parties spent less on ads, especially negative ads, and diverted some of the money towards getting voters to the polls on election day? Wouldn't our elections be more open and fair if the political parties paid for volunteers on buses to go block by block through every community in America to register as many people as possible prior to the election? Wouldn't it be a better use of money if the same volunteers and buses returned to the neighborhoods on election day to pick up people and take them to their polling places? Perhaps some of the buses could be turned into mobile voting stations. It is time we re-thought the entire way that campaign funds are spent. Bombarding the public with more and more ads is not the answer. Making it easier for people to vote could open our elections up to everyone and make our representatives more responsive to their voters, not just the party leadership. This thought also makes me wonder, what other ways could campaign finance money be better spent?
15 people like this
5 responses
• United States
21 Jun 17
It sickens me all the money that is spent on politics. It's sad to think about all the positive things that could have been done with just a portion of what was spent and wasted on big egos and special interests.
2 people like this
• Laguna Woods, California
22 Jun 17
@LindaCPearson - Many of the planned budget cutbacks would not be necessary if the campaign finance money was diverted to alleviate human suffering. That would be a much better use of the money!
2 people like this
• Eugene, Oregon
21 Jun 17
We have a very high voter turnout in Oregon with our vote by mail that we started years ago. We can either mail it or (as we do) drop the ballot off in special collection mailbox like steel boxes around town. I agree that campaign spending is out of control, but since the Supreme Court decision allowing no limits, I don't see it ever changing.
2 people like this
• Laguna Woods, California
21 Jun 17
@JamesHxstatic - My husband and I also vote by mail here in California. I love it. I cannot believe all states do not try this. It is so much easier. I agree that I am probably just indulging in wishful thinking that things will get better.
2 people like this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
20 Jun 17
I agree that the amount of money being spent on that one race is obscene. It is one that neither side wants to lose. But the problem with paying people to register voters is that it leads to voter registration fraud. There were 14 cases of voter fraud related to ACORN in the 2008 election. When people are supposed to register voters as their one duty, they don't want to come up with an empty clipboard. Volunteers? You will get only partisan types, anxious to register more for their particular party. Pay them and they will cheat. If people don't care enough about voting to register, then they probably shouldn't vote. I don't think we need more uninformed and disinterested voters. I think there are better ways to spend campaign money. The first thing we need is less money thrown at races. We need better candidates and more informed voters, and money can't buy either of those things.
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
21 Jun 17
@Rollo1 - You have made some excellent points which I had not considered. In California, we make it easy to register to vote when you get your driver's license and you can update your address online. Then, you can vote by mail. I agree we need better candidates and more informed voters.
@marguicha (221915)
• Chile
20 Jun 17
I have often thought that, in a country that has poverty. I´m sure that the incredible amount of money the political parties spend would mean more if spent for decent care for children of working mothers or any other help like that.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (221915)
• Chile
22 Jun 17
@DeborahDiane If they want a political add, they can call the media to look at the houses or schools or day care centers.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
25 Jun 17
Many of us have suggestions that no one in power will listen to or read @DeborahDiane Just sad how much is wasted.
1 person likes this
• Laguna Woods, California
25 Jun 17
@PatZAnthony - I agree that there are many good ideas floating around which no one in power will ever listen to or read ... even when we email them directly. It is really sad.