US Election Cost

Portion of an article by Gareth Edmundson wrote :

I quote" - $ 7 billion - that's how much the 2012 US election campaign will have cost after all the ballots have been cast. In 2010, UK election spending was $ 48 million. Even if the UK was the same size as America, spending to get candidates elected in the US would still be 30 times that of the UK.

Still shocked ? Facebook revenue in 2011 was a mere $ 3,7 billion, or if you want to talk countries, $ 7 billion is roughly the entire GDP of `zimbabwe. Yes America will likely spend more on campaign posters, badges and attack ads in 2012 than the entire GDP of Zimbabwe.

Ok, so $ 7 billion is a lot but there still many in US that argue that if you curtail spending you are only preventing free speech - which is not exactly "Bill-of-rights" tactics. They also claim that in countries like the UK, elections ate not as democratic because without spending on adverts people don't get to know all the facts to make an informed choice. - "un-quote"

Why do the US media only show the debates of the two main parties on television ? Are there no other parties representing the voters of the US ?

Saw to my amazement that a party called "The Green Party" whether I agree with their principals or not, is not given a platform on the media floor, in fact they are even forbidden to attend the live debates between the Republicans and Democrats.

I am nieve as to the political systems in the US but if they want the world to believe that their constitution is "water-proof" I think that the US must take example of the current constitution of South Africa.

We have free speech and can even post paintings like the infamous "Spear" painting that, although many would say was in bad taste, was still displayed in a gallery for the world to see.

For those who have not heard of the "Spear" painting, it was a painting of our current president Jacob Zuma with his genital parts being exposed.

I am sure that the US can do more for it's own people and for those they wish to help financially, than to spend $ 7 billion on election campaigns.

Associated link - Zuma’s ‘Spear’ Makes A Comeback