Lots of Money = Leader ?

I had a hard time choosing a post for this particular assignment due to the fact that the majority of the opinions I have been seeing are about the same exact thing. Who won the second debate? Why I'm supporting Barack Obama instead of Mitt Romney. Why I'm voting for Romney instead of Obama. Honestly, as much as I've read, I probably have heard every single point possible (I'm sure there are more out there, but it's just hard to believe). I was looking for a post that had more originality than the majority of the blogs I was reading and then I came across P. Sainath's article on "Billionaire Candidates: Follow the Money, Find the Leader." Did you know that each candidate and their party may spend up to $1.25 billion by the time the campaign is over? That's $2.5 billion every 4 years just to choose a leader for our country. If I remember correctly, isn't our country trillions of dollars in debt? And yet our "leaders" are choosing to spend $2.5 billion each election? That, in my opinion, is craziness!

It might appear that direct spending in 2012 by both presidential campaigns is less than it was in 2008 — though not by much. 

Sainath, the rural affairs editor of The Hindu, author, and professor at Princeton, writes this article to inform the "average joe" just how much money a candidate accrues and spends during their campaign. I can't even imagine $1 million let alone $2.5 BILLION! They spend this money and then wonder why the US is in such debt and why our economy is down the toilet. Sainath then goes on to state that despite racking up such a heinous bill, when money or even the inequality within the United States regarding money is addressed during their "debate" they avoid any commentary like the plague.This statement by far made me sad and just sickened me to no end,

"Meanwhile, about 25 million people who want full-time jobs can’t find them. The number of those on food stamps is at record levels. And 50 million people suffer food insecurity in a nation where, as economist Paul Buchheit points out: “The 10 richest Americans made enough money last year to feed every hungry person on earth for a year.”

If this is the case, which I have no doubt is probably true, the United States is doing something wrong. It needs to be addressed. However, with the leaders of today... I doubt it ever will be. It's in man's nature to think and act in their own self-interest above all else. However sad it may be, this fact is truly being shown. 

Once again, neither man mentioned the word “inequality” at any point in the debate...the word was as taboo as “corporate crime.”

As you can probably tell, I completely agree with what Sainath points out. Sure, I thought the presidency campaign would cost a lot, but $2.5 billion? That's outrageous. If the "average joe" wanted to run for presidency, it just couldn't be done. He'd be stomped by the money bags trailing men such as Obama and Romney. Does one have to be filthy rich to even consider becoming a leader within our country?

Apparently so.

Being hostage to money power is no myth.