by Steve Hansell

Created on: October 30, 2009   Last Updated: November 02, 2009

Changing the nation's campaign finance system is no longer something we would like to do, it has to happen. If we do nothing, then there will come a time when we won't have that power anymore. It's very simple really, publicly finance elections and make it illegal to spend any other monies to run for office.

"I'll keep you in the right direction if I can, but that's all. Just... follow the money." That was the line attributed to Deep Throat in the movie "All the Presidents Men". W. Mark Felt, Associate Director of the F.B.I. was Deep Throat, and it would make sense that he would have said that; it's how law enforcement agencies investigate criminal enterprises. All you have to do is follow the money and the case unravels itself.

Now I am not saying that getting elected is the same as being involved in a criminal enterprise, but if you want to see what has corrupted the political process in the United States (and likely anywhere else that money comes into play so heavily in elections), just follow the money.

In the 2008 election cycle, Pharmaceuticals/Health Products as an industry contributed 29 million dollars to political campaigns. 50 percent went to candidates identified as Democrats, and of course the other 50 percent went to Republicans.

It would seem like they would be contributing money to people who may not have their best interests at heart, wouldn't it? If by giving money equally to both parties, pharmaceutical interests are well served, what are they getting for their money?

This has nothing to do with the Pharmaceutical lobby other than they did pretty much what every other group who could afford to did; bought access to the most important elected officials. They can talk to congressmen when they want, because the congressmen need the money to get re-elected and aren't prepared to brush off contributors with such deep pockets.

It just doesn't take much imagination to get to the realization that people in congress are competing for money from lobbies like big Pharmacy. Like maybe a roofing company or restaurant, they have to have a better deal for the customer to get more money than their competition. And the customer is whoever has the money to pay.

Lobbyists have no interest in allowing how elections are paid for to change, they like it this way. It serves to give them power and money. The corporate interests have no desire for a change in the way things work, because the influence provided by our current system is incredibly biased, and allows any one group with more money then the others to have more influence. It's an easy equation.

The congress doesn't want to change the way we elect them, it's pretty easy to see that 95 percent of the time, the candidate with the most money, wins. Period. In Ohio, during the 2008 election cycle, there were 17 congressional races and 15 were won by the candidate with the most money. It was an odd year because the Democrats were swept into office after 8 years of Republican rule. In 2006, 18 out of 18 went to the largest war chest.

Large media organizations aren't interested in changing the way things work, either. The election cycle works well to bring in political advertising before the Christmas rush. And the 24 hour news channels need something for pundits to angrily shout at each other about.

If we as a nation don't change the way we finance elections, then there will only be the elected officials serving their clients who pay for their re-elections. And that is not you and me.

Sources

http://www.opensecrets.org/races/election.php?state= OH&cycle=2006

http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.php?ind= H04

Learn more about this author, Steve Hansell.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.