We are on the edge of the caucuses in Iowa tonight (January 2, 2008). There is a lot of hubbub over how the vote will go in Iowa. Iowa is seen as a weathervane as to where the candidates will go. My concern is about the obscene use of money in this presidential campaign. How can the candidates justify the money they are spending on themselves? For example, both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have $100,000,000 to spend on their campaigns. That represents a great deal of media blitz and other political advertising. $100,000,000. If all the candidates who are pursuing the presidency have similar amounts, we are talking about spending one-half billion dollars.
Several things to consider:
First, how do the candidates justify the waste of this much money? They do not even offer the slightest apology for it. Their goal is to be elected and they will do it regardless of the cost.
Second, this money comes from somewhere or someone(s). How many favors supporters will call in after the election is over? How much pressure can the supporters put on the presidency especially if the person is seeking re-election?
Third, there are thousands of hungry and homeless people in the USA who could benefit from this waste of money. How do you say to the hungry man, "Sorry, Charlie, but I need this money to get elected President? You just go ahead and starve to death. Before you die be sure you vote for me." New schools could be built, research funded for cancer and AIDS. Instead the money will go up in smoke and regardless of how much is spent, only one of these people will be president. That's the way our system works. It means that the other five wasted their time and money in the process.
Therefore, when these candidates talk about their concern for the poor, the unemployed, the uninsured, they are playing the role of the classic hypocrite.
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