Why do politicians spend more money to get elected than they could possibly make

1. 61

   Mugwumpposted 9 years ago

   Why do politicians spend more money to get elected than they could possibly make?
   
   I think this is at the root of the problem with our system today.

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2. 74

   Galadriel Arwenposted 9 years ago

   Unfortunately not all people who vote are interested in politics and thus pick out a name. President Truman was famous for saying that he didn't care what the news said about him as long as they used his name often. Money buys ads and the more ads the better chance the politician will win.

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3. 52

   Ivorytrainposted 9 years ago

   This is  for me a big problem with our goverment system.It allows the politicians to get money from big companys and intrest group (usualy with the unspoken agreement that  the politcian will help the said giver). They use this money to spread their faces on tv  radios ,papers and  phone calls to the public. It is now a  contest of who see who and hears who the most. Its wrong and should change.You will never see a poor person being able to run .After all you need to be  doing well in your private life for the money to be given to you .Face it if you are not money connected they will not give you the time of day.Money is power and our goverment is using  campain money to make sure they have the best public image they can.We now elect the potlticians  on what they drive , how they dress and how good they look.When we should be  able to have access to every part of their lives before they get elected ,because how they have run and treat people in their home lives will reflect how they run the goverment. But alas as long as  lobbyst and campain support (money) is how they run for election ,we will continue to have power hungrey corrupt goverment patting us on the head and and saying ' there ,there, don't worry your little heads about it . We know best'.

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4. 60

   garynewposted 9 years ago

   Your question virtually answers itself and belies the basic problem with American politics.

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5. 60

   dabeanerposted 9 years ago

   1) It is not THEIR money, usually.  It is usually contributors' money -- lobbyists for one group or company or another looking for legislative favors to get special treatment and/or taxpayer money.
   
   2) They make more than you think.  The "money laundering" laws do not apply to them.  Outright graft and bribery is the rule.  The Illinois Boganavitch (spelling?) case is noteworthy only because it is the exception that got wide attention. They make speech money, they get trips, they get sinecures and "consulting" positions after leaving office that pay even more than their government jobs...
   
   It is really a sweet deal.  The more corrupt and two-faced you are, the better you do in politics.  Republican or Democrat.

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6. 0

   Larry Croftposted 9 years ago

   The only explanation I can think of is that they have a deep-seated interest in the welfare of every single person in our Great United States of America.  I don't know of a single politician that has ever abused the system.  They are of course looking after our best interest.
   
   IN A PIG'S ASS!

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7. 0

   urimiddenposted 9 years ago

   BECAUSE IT IS NOT MONEY AT ALL, IT IS OUR BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS.
   
   THE NATION WAS BANKRUPT LONG AGO BY "SALAMI TACTICS", AND PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS HAVE BEEN THE AUCTION BLOCKS OF INTERNATIONAL SLAVE TRADING SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE PRIVATE FEDERAL RESERVE TRAFFICKING CARTEL.

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8. 83

   LetusPonderposted 9 years ago

   Look at the Clinton's worth, or Al Gore (I'm not mentioning Bush because his family already had money), before and after their being elected, and you'll see a HUGE difference in income.
   
   Plus, if you serve for only six years, you get full salary and benefits for the rest of your life - even after you are not elected for another term.

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9. 0

   andrewdabneyposted 8 years ago

   The first rule in running for an election is that you have to be willing to ask everyone you know for money.  Laws also require candidates to spend that money in its entirety or refund it.  To run a successful local campaign in the state of Georgia, where I reside, you have to begin with about $1 m budget when all ad revenue, campaign help, etc. is considered.  It sucks but that's the system.  It also requires a ridiculous amount of write-in signatures if you're not nominated from one of the two major parties.

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10. 50

    cancer22posted 8 years ago

    Same reason why anyone spends insane amounts of money.  Because they can and when they're deemed as greedy it's not entirely their fault.  It's ours because when it comes down to it we give it to them.  Whether it's donations to the campaign or using their name in every aspect of our lives we make it possible for them to get millions and spend it all.  They say it's to help America better but I think it's just to make their pockets fatter.

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