The U.S.A. has approximately 300 million citizens, of which about one-third may vote. Therefore, why are so few candidates available for presidential candidacy out of a "pool" of about 100 million voters? Dismissing those not of age to become president, I'm guessing about 66 million Americans are legally eligible to become president. The presidential choices are usually nearly 8 candidates but that is such a low, nearly non-existent number with respect to the amount of eligible Americans for this office. Regardless of party backing, can other eligible Americans run for president? Another guess of mine is, only millionaires can run for president, yes?
2006-11-14 00:25:44 · 10 answers · asked by Terry E 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Government
Would you want the media examining every aspect of your life, every check you ever wrote, every speech you made, and every website you visited?
2006-11-14 00:52:48 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Our system is designed to have only 3 or 4 top candidates, unlike some countries who have 70-80 people running for a presidential position. There are only two major parties in this country because that is the way it was designed. There was an attempt in the 1990's to add another major party to the landscape but Ross Perot bungled his Presidential campaign so badly, he damaged the credibility for independents for decades.
Proportoinment representation has been flying around for years, but that would lead to alot of confusion amoung a populous already overextended by 30 second commericials.
Look at a guy like Mike DeWine who worked across the aisle and got things done and we booted him out for a partisan hack. For all American voters to say that they want partisan rhetoric to stop, they sure could not figure out who the right people to do that were.
2006-11-14 10:29:30 · answer #2 · answered by magicjackcollins 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because the candidates have to be nominated by the party to run. It's a way that even though people can vote they have to vote for the politicians that the party endorses thereby limiting their choice. It's usually the lessor of the two evils with exception as is the case of the Bush administration. Anyone can run but not everyone can make past the starting gate. We have to face to fact the the wealthy need to have someone in office that is going to keep the wealth with the wealthy and keep the poverty with the poor. It's hard to believe that this is a government of the people for the people. The hardest thing to swallow is that after serving even just one term in office they collect "Full Pay For Life Retirement Benefits". That's like $20,000 every month for the rest of your life. What do these people do to deserve that kind of life? They are supposed to be public servants not royalty.
2006-11-14 08:43:58 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry, but the legal requirements to be President are:
1. Natural-born citizen
2. Lived in the US for the past 14 years
3. At least 35 years old
That would give you about 150 million people who could be President. Now, will they all run, and subject themselves to the thorough anal examination that goes with that job? 99.999% won't.
Besides, it's not like you can really hold another job and run for President. It's a full-time occupation for well over a year. You'd have to be wealthy to do that, so that eliminates 99.99% of the remaining 0.001% that we eliminated before. Which gives you about 8 people that could do it, or want to do it.
2006-11-14 08:37:00 · answer #4 · answered by TheOnlyBeldin 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The rich support the rich.
Andrew Johnson became president back in the 1860s when he owned nothing more than a tailoring shop. People used to debate about the speeches of officials--speeches that were not written by professional speech spinners.
Every member of Bush's cabinet is a multimillionaire. Hmmmm, coincidence?
2006-11-14 08:30:54 · answer #5 · answered by sixgun 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
NO!..........It is a very hard ..high profile position that puts you under a microscope. You have NO privacy, anything you SAY, DO, FEEL, HOLD DEAR etc... is scrutinized and criticized.......now,,,, would YOU run for prez???
It is not a money issue..... the prez does not make that much really. Some do run ,I believe for the fame, but most run because they really believe they can make a difference.
My son once said he would like to be president....I told him and his Daddy told him NO WAY... your life would be way too stressful........
2006-11-14 23:58:10 · answer #6 · answered by jamocha 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One big reason is the cost. Do you realize that it will cost the average Presidential candidate 500 million dollars to run? Sad eh?
2006-11-14 09:49:22 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is called the golden rule.
He who has the Gold makes the rules and so only people who believe in what the people with the Gold believes will receive enough funding to run a campaign. In that way the race is limited to people of a certain nature
2006-11-14 08:34:28 · answer #8 · answered by Mitchell b 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
You are right...It cost alot of money to travel around the 50 states, hire a staff, offices, campaign literature etc, etc so only those that have that kind of $ can do it..
2006-11-14 08:41:47 · answer #9 · answered by flashrtp 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
it takes roughly 100Million dollars to begin a national campaign for president
2006-11-14 09:59:04 · answer #10 · answered by paulisfree2004 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋