I remember watching Brewster’s Millions (the Richard Pryor version) for the first time way back when. Probably in the mid-80s. Geez. That makes it nearly 20 years ago. Still, it was a fun movie. I think that, even then, I was most impressed by his run for office.
Perhaps not the run itself. Maybe it was the point he made about why exactly someone (his competition) would spend millions of dollars to land a job that paid only a few thousand? In the movie, it was because they were certain to steal it back, with interest. Does that happen in our society today? Perhaps.
Regardless, these numbers are staggering. Federal campaigns for the president can accept public-financing assistance, but in doing so they impose limits on themselves. For instance, the government will match a portion of contributions, but only if the candidate agrees to spend no more than $45 million during the primary season.
Read that again. Each presidential candidate has a limit of $45 million during the primary season if they want to receive assistance. The really staggering numbers come into play when you talk about the fact that the frontrunners in today’s races may actually forego the assistance so that they can spend as much as they like. Very inconvenient being hamstrung by a $45 million limit, you know.
Why is it that so much money goes into the process? These people are willing to spend millions of dollars – collectively hundreds of millions – just to get elected. Would they do that if there wasn’t a reason? An even better question: Would they do it if it was their money? Most politicians are loose with the purse strings – mainly because it isn’t their purse.
Maybe None of the Above is an idea whose time has come.