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Politics : Mainstream Politics and Economics
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To: koan who wrote (18764)7/3/2012 9:08:47 PM
From: TimF  Read Replies (1) of 85487
 
Adelson said he would spend 100 million.

That's a lot less than a billion.

And 90% of all elections are won by who has the most money.

Not so sure about that, but whatever the exact percentage is your correct that having more money is a definite advantage.

Of course people who have the most support and the most committed support, and most optimistic support (if you think your guy is doomed to lose, your not likely to send a big check) also have an advantage in getting the most money, so getting the most money is partially a sign of other support, and partially a sign of thinking the candidate might be able to win. This is hardly simply "money produces victories", and it becomes less so as the amount spent by both sides go up. You have $50mil and your opponent has $1mil? All else being equal you are very likely to win. You have $300mil and he has $100 mil? He has a shot. Lack of money means lack of being able to get your message out (except to a certain extent for incumbents, who can use their office to get their message out, but incumbents usually have money.)

Free speech? That is not the issue here.

Sure it is. Both with candidates being able to raise money (you can't get your message out if you can't raise funds), and even more directly with independent expenditures (if your not allowed to spend your own money on getting your message out, your free speech is clearly and dramatically infringed on).

How about foreign control of our government? Or control by billionairs and large corporations.

How about extra-terrestrial control of our government. Its only slightly less likely.
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