Can you explain to me why people that run for government offices?

Question

need millions of dollars from voters to just run their campaigns?

Our country isn't that old. 100 yrs ago when men decided to run for office, lets just say for president, they made the announcement and it was spread by word of mouth and paper and phone. Later by TV. But did they go around asking American citizens that could vote for donations to pay for their own advertising like they do today? Is this what the donations go to, toward all the advertising about them running for office? To pay for the newletters, to pay for the letters asking for donations, to pay for their jet flights, to pay for their interviews...? Doesn't the political groups have a bank account that they can dip into for this stuff?

I vote and I'll get bumper stickers and signs for my front yard. But I'm tired of all the phone calls and all the letters in the mail. Why do they need millions and millions of dollars, and even before they make the official announcement of running for president? Plez explain.

Answer 1

You are asking for a rational explanation for something that is utterly irrational. When a local politician spends two or three million dllars for a job that pays a hundred grand a year for two too four years or hundred million or more for the Presidency which gives out two hundred grand a year plus perks then it is obviouslly a corrupt system. A lot of it is the job hough the bulk of the money is poured into a handful of PR firms, other parasites get their financial rewards for 'guiding' their candidates to success or failure. What is truly warped is that a man, occassionally a woman, will earn two to ten million dollars wether or not their candidate wins.

Some money trickles down to the grunt worker. For an inner city New Yorker, for example, earning ten bucks an hour making annoying phone calls on behald of Hillary can mean a lot. But mostly elections in America have become a scam - - - a vast money scheme tied in with dreams & ambition.

Oh, and on election night everyone can partake of the food & entertainment at most every candidate's headquarters - - - the true trickle down experience......

Pax------------------------------

Answer 2

Supply and demand. There's a definite demand for advertising. The number of voters that need to be reached is far greater than it was 100 years ago. Not only is the population of the US greater, but the percentage of that population that can vote is now greater. Television and other media advertising are available to most of those voters and candidates have seen the demand for getting their names before the public. Therefore advertisers know that there is a need and money can be made. Advertising is expensive. Face it - most people who don't know the issues well, will vote for a name that they recognize. There is a certain level of comfort in voting for something familiar. It feels safe even if you can't remember why you recognize the name.
Politician's realize that and know that if they don't get their name mentioned, they have a far greater chance of losing. Some people (fortunately) really do know and care about the issues and the only way they are likely to be reached is by hearing the candidates speak about their platforms. Same result - they have to use the media to reach these people. Yes, jet planes provide the candidates access to a broader base of the population and giving the people the feeling of accessibility to a candidate is important - it's the 'personal touch'. Yes, paying someone to run an organized campaign of this magnitude can get expensive.
It DOES seem like an extraordinary amount of money, but the money spent is often directly proportional to the number of people reached and consequently it is proportionally to your improved chances of winning.

Answer 3

Because it's all about sales nowadays.

Politicians are selling themselves, just like any other product. And just like any other product, whoever has better advertising wins.