In the last senatorial election in the state of Massachusetts each candidate spent approximately thirty million dollars to
get
elected United States Senator. The monies went for television and newspaper ads, hotels, buses, staffing, and other incidentals. That figure pales in regard to the presidental race. Why would anyone spend millions to get a job paying a hundred thousand? What possesses a person to put him or herself through all the labor and torment? I can not completely believ it is patriotism. Maybe the
benefits entice them.
If senior senators like Ted Kennedy retire tomorrow their pension runs in the hundreds of thousands. This does not count postage perks, health insurance, and other benefits not discussed in public. That would make just about anyone want to run.
What happened to part time legislators who came to Washington for six months and went home to serve their voters? That was how it was in the beginning. The pay was not out of sight either for the actual amount of work done. Men then spent thier time well. Bills were not lost in some committee somewhere. People trusted their elected officials. And voters heard the real truths from candidates with prestige and not full of other people's cash.
Will the system change in our life time? Probably not. Does the future look towards even bigger payouts for the overperked offices? Most likely.
Let's get back to the basics where integrity was not spelled money or payback. We are long over due for a standard where contributors don't control who is or is not elected. This is the United States. Ballot stuffing went out centuries ago. Buying votes mean buying trouble. I like my country the way was and should be, For the people.