CapitalistMarks

Who are politicians?

Posted on 04. May, 2009 by scott in political munglings

Please don’t mistake politicians for people who can get anything done.? I am no social-psychologist but as I listen to American politicians on TV?and sometimes the radio–when they rudely infest talk shows (they are like moths around a light when it comes to publicity and make movie-stars seem like shrinking violets).

Oh, boy as I right this I am getting more and more frustrated.? I have made my stance on term limits clear.? Whenever I see anything that will help the general public (by general I mean those unwilling or unable to invest effort in decision making — i.e. those who let talking heads make decisions for them) I am committed to writing about it.

Hence, the recent revelation that the average expenditure in a U.S. Senate race in 2008 was a staggering $8 million plus.? I hope you understood that was the average for ALL the races . .?. not for those who were elected (I won’t go there today but it is clear that incumbents have a tremendous advantage in getting elected and in getting $$ to get elected — a huge warning sign right there).

Today I just want those of you ruminating on the state of our affairs to think about the economics of that number.??One hundred?Senate seats times at least two candidates time $8 million–HOLY CRAP– Americans are throwing away (and I mean that literally) more than $800 million dollars on those knuckleheads in the Senate.? Those guys get six year terms.? What about the 535 yahoos in Congress.? They get elected every two years–and while I couldn’t tie down there average election cost for them, the total election cost? for 2008?(campaigns only–not state and local personnel and other costs) was $4 billion.

And you think these guys are in it for the?service?? All you got to do is listen to someone like Joe (‘the joke’) Biden and that should disabuse you of any such notion.? This is America, the world’s greatest capitalist society.? No one, and especially not politicians do what they do out of charity.? They want power, money (or horribly both–think Senator Stevens or Governor Blogojevich, both ex-es thank heavens), attention, or whatever . . . but never, never simple, quite, honest?service for the country and their fellow citizens.? The numbers speak for themselves.? We can’t let them continue to run this country.? We need new blood every few years.?

Term limits.? Now.? After thinking about it, I admit that two may be one too many.

On top of that lets put some limits on spending.? Real limits.? Not ones that PACs can get around.? Fifty-million for President.? Five-hundred for the senate.? One-hundred for congress.? Those are dollars.

Term limits.? Election spending limits.

Let’s take America back people.

Starting today.

Up to you.

Please.

Help.

Now.

?

thanks for the photo goes to flickr’s telemetry9

Tags: congress, election spending limits, senate, term limits