Drew’s right. The Democratic Convention hasn’t gone into detail about specific plans, but it has highlighted key issues such as national security/war, stem cell research, the economy, etc. From there, undecideds can focus their research efforts on issues of interest and importance.
In addition, the rah-rah-go-America speeches stress the importance of voting and being a good citizen -- though the extravagant costs could definitely be spent more reasonably. But extravagant spending is not limited to the convention alone; presidential campaigning (including ads) costs way, way more.
Drew’s statement brought up a good point: “$400,000 will be spent on balloons and confetti alone. If you are serious about easing the squeeze of the middle class, both parties could start by cutting their balloon budget.”
$400,000 could be spent on better things than inflated, colored plastic. In laymen’s terms, $400,000 could pay for four years of college tuition, plus the most expensive grad school in the country, and then some. But hey, elections are another world -- where money seems to be no object.
Keep in mind that “Preliminary expenditures for Bush and Kerry campaigns, through end of March 2004” are absolutely incredible. Bush spent approximately $100,000,000, and Kerry $55,000,000, according to CBS News.
As of last March, it was “the most expensive presidential election in U.S. history.”
Compared to that, $400,000 worth of balloons is pocket change. That relatively miniscule amount represents the sprinkles on the sundae, the icing on the cake, the maraschino cherries in a bowl of mixed fruit cocktail, the amount of chips you actually find in a jumbo-sized bag filled 75% with air...yeah, you get my point.
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