Money in Politics

Money in Politics

In the world of politics today there are many problems. Nasty campaigning and

Slamming ones opponent have become commonplace in today's world. This is a very

Distinct problem. Yet the root of the problem isn't the candidates themselves, in most

Cases. The national committees for the republicans and the democrats is at the true heart

Of the problem. The money which is spent by those massive institutions to their

party's candidate in each election is staggering. Therefore the problem lies not in the

candidates themselves, but in the money which is used to finance their campaigns.

Campaign finance reform is a hot topic these days yet none the less a very important

topic which must be addressed.

Campaign financing has very specific rules, which are governed with an iron rod.

However the major party's have found ways to cheat. A loop hole which must be closed

To ensure that democracy thrives for many years to come. The rules for campaign

financing are simple. Individuals are permitted to give, $1000.00 per candidate per

election. Where as interest groups are allowed to donate $5000.00 per candidate per

election. These are relatively small amounts compared to the hundreds of millions of

dollars spent by both major party's this election season. So where does the money come

from? The answer to this question is quite simple. The national committees of the major

party's, have many accounts which are non-federal. These accounts are used to accrue

what is known as soft money. There are no limits on how much the party's can spend at

local levels for grass roots party building. So the money in the non-federal regulated

accounts is funneled to states, which use the money to endorse or bash one of the

candidates. The answer to the problem is simple reform the laws which govern campaign

financing.

While the answer may be simple achieving the solution is quite a different story.

The major party's control the law making body of the United States. Many of these

Congressmen owe their political position to what is known as soft money. This soft

money comes from interest groups and major corporations. So the legislators are in a

very tough position. However if they were to reform the laws the role of these interest

groups, and the money of these corporations would be greatly diminished. Also, it would

provide a level playing field in all congressional districts around the nation.

This would provide a level playing field because the election rate of incumbent

Congressmen is more than ninety-percent. Why? Then you might ask is the re-election

rate so high. Because the party is much more likely to spend the soft money in places

where they have seats, and know they can retain them. Whereas the committee for the

party which is not in office in a certain district, may be dissuaded by a lesser known

candidate in that district. Feeling that they can not steal the seat from the other party, the

committee is less likely to spend soft money to keep up. The signifiganceof this is that

in ninety-five percent of elections in the 1996 campaign season. The candidate who

spent the most money won. It was also proportional in that whoever had spent more

money than the other candidate won by more votes. So if you outspend your opponent

by one-million dollars you win by five percent. If you outspend by two-million you win

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