Following the Money

As we start gearing up in earnest for the 2012 presidential election, what is the topic most on the mind of the political parties? Is it fixing the economy? Is it making our schools better? Is it protecting the environment or ensuring that people can afford quality health care?

No.

It's money.

Yes, Dear Readers, running for office is expensive. It takes a lot of money to buy millions of tacky roadside signs, program annoying robocalls, buy radio and television air time to broadcast smears and half-truths, and travel around the country to listen to (and then ignore) the voices of Real People. Luckily, though, there's plenty of money available for the purchase of public offices, thanks to the generosity of the Supreme Court. As Will Rogers once said, "Politics has become so expensive that it takes a lot of money even to be defeated."

Money does, indeed, make the political world go round. You can see the wonderful Liza Minelli/Joel Grey video from Cabaret here.

And here is an interesting website I found the other day that helps you track how much money is being spent on political campaigns in your district - Follow the Money.

At a time when we are cutting back on schools, police and fire protection, health care, and environmental protection because of a lack of money, I think it's obscene that such enormous amounts of money are being spent on the quest for political office.

But what do I know?

Have a good day. Follow the money, and then get upset about it. More thoughts tomorrow.

Bilbo