Now all information for this will be from
http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/index.asp
I am using the "Total Spent" only for this.
After using that nifty calculating feature on my computer, I find that the campaign spending so far in this primary race totals to $691,479,424. (I hope that is right, there were a lot of numbers). But dear God, 691, 479, 424 DOLLARS. USD. CASH. That isn't even counting all the little people who were very minor candidates.
What could I do if I had that kind of money? Well for one, I could go through my University's 5-year teaching program about 8, 643 times. Or, one could send that many kids to college. If I estimate a house costing $200, 000 - then I could buy 3, 457 houses. Apparently it costs a parent about 300, 000 dollars (It's in the high 200 thousands) to take care of a kid until the age of 18. That is almost 2,304 kids.
But in the end, only one person is going to be president. Only one of them is going to win the game. Whoever is vicepresident doesn't really matter, we know that. The rest just goes to waste, with the exception of someone furthering or ruining their stupid reputations and political ambitions. Think of what could have been paid for if, instead of putting it towards these elaborate campaigns, contributers gave money to charity or if candidates put some of this money towards issues they are talking about. Health care? Poverty? Social Seecurity? Hey, Detroit is in the news a lot now thanks to Kwame, you could pay off Detroit's debt with that cash and help Michigan not be such a sucky state compared to the rest of them. Sound cool? I think it sounds better than spending thousands or millions of dollars on that self-promotion.
This is the state of the United States' debt: Debt Clock
I am just really angry that this many candidates (of which, I do not want any in the White House) have spent this much money. Honestly, our Nation is in so much debt right now. I cannot respect these people- spending so much money. I really cannot respect the democrats at all at this point, spending that much money in addition to all the stupid bickering that is dividing the party; how much money has gone towards petty bickering and trying to out-do each other.
That money could have helped fix some schools or paid off some national debt. It makes me sick that these people are/were fighting to run our country and in the process are wasting money and/or creating and putting themselves into debt. It doesn't help our country at all. It makes it worse.
Here's a list of what I used to find the total. It's here for shock and awe purposes. Hopefully you're as disgusted as I am after looking at this.
$154,767,643 - Barack Obama
$135,828,257 - Hilary Clinton
$56,657,944 - John McCain
Joe Biden - $10,552,631
Sam Brownback - $4,207,846
Chris Dodd - $15,004,617
John Edward - $45,906,115
Jim Gilmore - $376,339
Rudy Guiliani - $56,793,731
Mike Gravel - $524,129
Mike Huckabee - $15,271,687
Duncan Hunter - $2,539,906
Dennis Kucinich - $4,427,828
Alan Keyes - $281,204
Ron Paul - $28,735,134
Bill Richardson - $22,887,736
Mitt Romney - $103,820,052
Tom Tancredo - $6,709,482
Fred Thompson - $22,901,877
Tommy Thompson - $1,210,742
Tom Vilsack - $2,074,524
If you want to check my calculations and correct me, feel free. I'll correct it.
What is your opinion on campaign spending? What is something you would use the money for? I mentioned how many more kids could be supported, sent to college to be teachers, buy houses- give your own example of how much this money could have bought.
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