Ah, Mid-term elections are upon us once again. All that mudslinging, outlandish accusations, and yes, all that money! It is pretty obvious that today’s elections are all about money. How much can be raised, how much candidates already have, and how much they are willing to spend is today’s template in our election process. This is no more apparent than in Florida where there are two candidates viaing for Governor and United States Senate. Both have amassed large fortunes through questionable means prior to seeking public office. Yet, they are determined to spend whatever it takes to get elected. The sad part is citizens are continually falling victim to their aurora of wealth that surrounds and shrouds their every move. Ideals, principals, and an actual plan of direction that details how if elected they will bring about a better quality of life for their constituents are not even addressed in all those obnoxious political advertisements or by the candidates themselves.
When today, people flock to individuals that flaunt their wealth are no more like those so called friends that seem to come out of nowhere if you suddenly won the lottery. It is amazing the gullibility of people when individuals use wealth to garnish power and control over them. But that has been happening since the dawn of civilization. Our founding fathers sought when they laid the framework of our Constitution that America would not succumb to the temptations of using wealth as a means for controlling populations. But, that is exactly what is occurring today.
There is plenty of blame to go around to why the United States political process has evolved into such a travesty. A prime example has been unfolding for decades in the way the major news media has interpreted how they will cover the political process including which candidates will receive their coveted attention and now endorsement. They have virtually total control of who will be included in their coverage and who they will be endorsing. All of which is based upon personal wealth. This is a blatant attempt and an actuality that sways the general public to vote for their chosen candidate or issue. The media has an obligation to the public to educate, inform, enlighten, and to entertain. But know where do they have the right to impose their will or their decisions about issues and or candidates upon the public. It is us, the general public, that through education must make those decisions ourselves in our electoral process that ultimately defines the core values of the United States. The only way to secure that the electoral process eliminates the gross implications and injustices that are occurring because of the monumental costs for candidates today is for the media to relinquish the expense to any one who files for any elected office two months prior to any primary or general election. This would be a start in equaling the playing field to any individual who wishes to pursue public service. Also this would begin a renewal in the democratic process the way our founding fathers envisioned. .AOLWebSuite .AOLPicturesFullSizeLink { height: 1px; width: 1px; overflow: hidden; } .AOLWebSuite a {color:blue; text-decoration: underline; cursor: pointer} .AOLWebSuite a.hsSig {cursor: default}
