Taking back your vote - one ad at a time

Could a new trend in politics be emerging?  Could candidates actually be looking to reduce the billions they spend each cycle? 

Photo by Denver Post

Read a great article in the USA Today by Martha Moore that addressed these questions as she reported the significant lag in ad buys by GOP campaigns during the primary season, instead opting to take advantage of free air time through the increased number of televised debates.  Makes sense to me since most of the country has been forced to cut the extras in their budgets and in many homes, even cutting essentials.

Hold on!

Before you put any of these politicians on the “goodwill” or “fiscally responsible” pedestal, wait and see.  There is clearly strategy involved by not spending money now, that will be needed later for the eventual nominee.  Suffice it to say that when the money dam breaks, there will be a flood of cash pouring in to TV stations across the country and even more pouring into those campaign war-chests from special interest groups and super PACs.  Just know that as it happens, a little piece of your voice is being washed away in that tidal storm.

Best you read the article to draw your own conclusions however, consider the points the report brings up could reshape the political dynamic.

Imagine a campaign season where you saw speeches from town halls and city centers, debates from across the country, and pundits arguing the points for and against each candidate.  Imagine even more interaction between politicians vying for a top post having to spend even more time meeting future constituents, hearing their concerns and offering ideas.  Now imagine not hearing hate-filled fiction run on every television and radio station across the country.  Imagine special interest groups and political action committees actually ceding influence to people like you and I.

That world could exist with an approach that leverages news and community events over advertisement and expensive gimmicks.  It takes out the need for billions to run a presidential campaign, which is generally spent on TV ads.  In turn that reduces the candidates dependency on campaign financing from interest groups that have no interest in the American people.  Our political system takes one step closer to being a nation that lives up to “We the People” instead of “We the Wealthy Machine”.  And how about that, electing an official based on who they are rather than how much they could raise in campaign money.

I think Senator McCain is and has been right to ask for campaign finance reform but I think most of his ideas fall short on the massive overhaul that is needed.  If you take the marketing and advertising out of the equation, along with the expense, what you are left with is something more objective, truthful and relevant.  People would have to do a little more homework rather than deciding on a candidate based on a 30 second advertisement.

So in a time where everyone of the regular folks is tightening their meager budgets, so too should those who brought us the economic mess to begin with.  It’s a time where we cannot afford not to look closely at these candidates.  We saw two years ago that voters felt Washington needed reform but I say it needs to start at the beginning of the election cycle. 

I’m personally waiting for all of these top tier candidates and elected officials to realize and care that our nation is hurting.  I’m waiting for the one who steps away from the pack of professional politicians and stands with “We the People”.   

So draw your own conclusions and read the article here:   From USA Today

As always, your comments and ideas are welcome here.