Is Our Government For Sale?

The 2012 election campaign was the most expensive political campaign in history. Just in Ohio alone, the amount of money spent by both candidates for the senate seat occupied by Sherrod Brown was the most expensive campaign in Ohio’s history. That does not include the amount of money spent on the presidential campaign in Ohio as well as the nation. According to the final report in 2013, Democratic incumbent (and ultimate winner) Sherrod Brown spent more than $24 million to retain his seat while GOP challenger Josh Mandel spent a little more than $18 million on his campaign. 

But those numbers do not include the amount of money spent by outside groups on behalf of one candidate or another. Crossroads GPS and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce both spent more than $10 million dollars trying to unseat Sherrod Brown. Of course other outside groups also spent a lot of money trying to elect their favored candidate. All told, the candidates spent more than $42 million dollars on their campaigns and outside groups easily spent just as much money as the candidates. 

The number of votes cast for senator in 2012 was 5,258,233 according to the Secretary of State’s office. Just doing some simple math to the candidates each vote was worth more than $8.00 and when the spending from outside groups is included, no doubt the total figure may be that all campaign spending was more than $15.00 for each vote cast. 

This is just for one senate race. There was also a presidential race in 2012 and both sides spent humongous sums of money in Ohio to convince voters to vote for their candidate. No doubt that the spending for the presidential election was close or exceeded the amount spent for the senate seat. So, if I may guess, your presidential vote in Ohio was probably worth about $15.00 based on the spending for president. 

But it is the very wealthy donors who, now that the Supreme Court has opened the door to unlimited political spending, have the potential to significantly alter the nation’s political landscape. The billionaire Koch Brothers, who own Koch Industries are poised to spend $290 million dollars to influence the election this year alone. Another very wealthy person who is attempting to influence elections with his money is casino magnate Sheldon Adleson who spent $93 million dollars on the 2012 campaign all by himself. 

The amount of money that the Koch Brothers are said to be spending on the 2014 election is as much as 5,270 American households make in an entire year. Does an ordinary citizen have a chance against all this money that has now been declared by the United States Supreme Court as “free speech”? But is this how we want our government to be operated and chosen? Is this what the founding fathers of this nation had in mind when they wrote the constitution? 

Those wealthy campaign donors are not stupid. They wouldn’t donate millions to political campaigns unless they got something for their investment. If a candidate who is the beneficiary of such campaign largess from wealthy donors, whose interests would they represent; the voters and the people of their district or those wealthy campaign donors who made that victory possible? 

The reality is that in the 21st century it costs a lot of money to mount a successful campaign for congress or the presidency. But shouldn’t the bulk of the money that is donated to those election campaigns come from the people themselves instead of a small handful of wealthy donors who have an agenda? When the Supreme Court threw out all limitations on campaign spending and donations to political campaigns; they opened a hornet’s nest of political spending that can threaten our democracy. It is time for the people to stand up and demand that the Citizens United decision by the Supreme Court be overturned and sanity brought back into the political process. 

It is supposed to be an election, not an auction where the office goes to the highest bidder. At least you know that your vote is worth a lot of money. So if anything else, go out and vote in this election. If you do not vote, then you have no business criticizing the government. 

Sources and related links:

http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=OHS1&cycle=2012

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/06/17/the-koch-brothers-may-spend-290-million-on-this-election-thats-how-much-5270-american-households-make-in-a-year/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2014/03/25/sheldon-adelson-spent-93-million-on-the-2012-election-heres-how/

Lee Kamps

Lee has been working with Medicare, Medicaid and private health insurance since he began working at the Erie County Welfare Department in January 1973 where a major part of his job was determining eligibility for Medicaid. He went into the private insurance business in 1977 with Prudential Insurance Company and within a short time had become one of the company’s top sales agents. In 1982, he was promoted into management where he managed two field offices and as many as thirteen sales agents. After leaving Prudential in 1986, Lee decided to become more focused on health insurance and employee benefits. He has advised many local employers on how to have a more cost effective employee benefit program as well as conducted employee benefit meetings and enrollments for many area employers. The companies Lee has worked with ranged from small “mom and pop” businesses to local operations of large national companies. Lee received his B.S. degree from Kent State University where he has been active in the local alumni association. He has completed seven of the ten courses toward the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist designation. He has taught courses in employee benefits and insurance at Cleveland State University and local community colleges. In addition, Lee is an experienced and accomplished public speaker. He has been a member of Toastmasters International where he achieved the designation of “Able Toastmaster – Silver” in 1994. He has also served as a club president, Area Governor and District Public Relations Officer in Toastmasters as well as winning local speech contests. Lee has also been a member of the Greater Cleveland Growth Association’s Speaker’s Bureau where he was designated as one of the “official spokespeople for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” prior to the hall’s opening in 1995. He has given talks and presentations before many audiences including civic organizations, AARP chapters and many other community groups. With the implementation of the Medicare Modernization Act (Medicare drug bill) in 2006, Lee has shifted his focus to Medicare and helping Medicare beneficiaries navigate the often confusing array of choices and plans available. As an independent representative, Lee is not bound to any one specific company or plan, but he can offer a plan that suits an individual person’s needs and budget. In addition, Lee is well versed in the requirements and availability of various programs for assistance with Medicare part D as well as Medicaid. While he cannot make one eligible, he can assist in the process and steer one to where they may be able to receive assistance.

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Volume 6, Issue 10, Posted 9:25 AM, 10.02.2014