What do we as the voters of America really know about the political system we live under? How much of our thinking and knowledge of the system is influenced by money and the wealthy who use it to affect our choices when we go to the polls? No matter how much we question the system, and study it to seek understanding, there always seems to be a money connection tucked away in the fine print.
This past week's Democrat Gazette revealed that Rogers' former city attorney had drawn over $500,000 in salary and benefits for an elected position he was not qualified to fulfill because of his residency. The Arkansas Supreme Court Committee on Professional Conduct fined him for violation of five ethical standards. All this we learn after the fact.
During our recent Republican Party Primary election one of the candidates for county judge spent over 10 times as much as the other in a bid for this position which about equals a year's salary for the office. The campaign money came primarily from a wealthy family who has an interest in downtown Bentonville and the future location of Benton County's Court facilities. To what extent this changed the outcome of the election, we cannot know, but the spender of the larger campaign funds won in the primary although there seemed to be no problem with the administration of the loser -- the incumbent. There is nothing illegal about supporting the candidate of your choice. But, financial resources can help promote the candidate of choice.
CBS's "60 Minutes" broadcast recently revealed that the national political parties (both Democrat and Republican) which represent our elected members of Congress maintain call centers for members to solicit funds for their own re-election and to provide funds for the national offices. This came out in the follow-up to a bill initiated by Representative David Jolly of Florida designed to limit the elected members from personally getting involved in the calling of potential donors. Because there has been very little follow-up by the news media on this activity, you and I will never know the extent to which our legislative results from Washington are affected by the priorities "suggested" by the national parties' leaders.
We continue to hear about Hillary Clinton's obscene fees for making speeches to large organizations. It is difficult for me as a simple average voter, to understand how those fees are not intended to buy influence from the very person who is claiming they carry '"no expectation." When the Clinton Foundation raises multiple millions of dollars for their "charitable" work from sources whose identity we can only guess, it is hard not to question what her presidency would do for their personal wealth. It is reported that former President Bill Clinton, earned even more for his speeches than Mrs. Clinton. Obviously there is more to this office's benefits than the guy on the street is told. Influence, book fees and speaking fees mount up quickly if one chooses. Do all ex-presidents and secretaries of state claim those same fees?
Donald Trump, for all his billions, has been able to use the bankruptcy laws to his benefit and avoided millions of dollars in losses, if the newspaper reports are correct. Whether I agree with casinos or not doesn't matter, he has been successful in selling his ideas to very wealthy people and owns property in multiple places ranging from golf courses to Trump Towers. In the process of accumulating his wealth, he has made many wealthy friends who will come forth to help him finance his run for the White House if he is successful in obtaining the Republican nomination. They will need to be repaid someway if he is elected president.
It seems the political landscape is skewed in favor of those large sums of money. For the little people, we have a little known senator from Vermont who is actually an Independent, collecting small donations from a large number of voters who either believe in his programs or believe he is above the effects that large donors' influence have on our system.
When we look at the extremely high cost of campaigning, it is understandable that money counts. However, there must be some way for candidates to keep their integrity above reproach and still be recognized by the world as a leader. Do you remember how Billy Graham got his name established?
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Editor's note: Leo Lynch is an award-winning columnist. A native of Benton County, he is a retired industrial engineer and former Justice of the Peace. He can be contacted at [email protected].
Community on 06/01/2016