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You can't be serious. Of course it isn't.

This is the longest and most expensive presidential campaign in American history. (I deeply wish that we could delay this campaign for about a year, but that would be an article in itself.) How much did Hilary raise in the past three months? Was it $27 million? I heard the figure but I didn't memorize it. Barack wasn't too far behind her.

I don't believe for one minute that such figures indicate voter support. That is, average voter support. Support from the little guys (or gals) like you and me. I don't think these candidates can raise such amounts of money without a number of millionaires in their collections, millionaires who can cough up a check with half a dozen zeroes without blinking an eye. Do these contributors choose their candidates based on positions concerning the issues? I hope so. But since I don't even know who they are, I have to suspect they probably support the candidate who will cooperate with their own personal agendas.

You and I can send what we are able to send. It will take 10,000 people like you and me, each sending Hilary (or another candidate) a personal check for $100, to raise $1,000,000. Assuming that you and I can afford to send any of them that much. Speaking for myself, right now I can't afford to send $5 to any of them, let alone $100.

Now if it takes 10,000 little guys (or gals) minimal to give Hilary or Barack a check for $1,000,000, how many of us will it take to give Hilary or Barack a total of $27,000,000? Wouldn't it be easier for them to just go to their millionaire buddies and ask for a moderate check from each?

The obvious conclusion is that we now have to ask a question: When the candidate is finally elected President, who is going to be represented? Those Americans who sweat and toil - farmers, clerks, secretaries, factory laborers, truck drivers - to keep this country going? Or those Americans who can just toss off a check with a few zeroes in it?

This is not the place to go into a whole other topic, but I have the distinct impression that our system (such as it is) of choosing a President is in desperate need of an overhaul. The only way we have now of making "Anyone can grow up to be President" true is to rewrite the statement which would then read: "Anyone who is rich or who can become rich can grow up to be President."

That is not what I thought this country started out to be. It is sad that this is what we have become.

Learn more about this author, Joyce Crane.
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