The National Election was held yesterday. After 18 months of primaries, nomination
conventions, debates, print and television ads, it is finally over. It is time for people to throw away their lawn
signs, have billboards removed, and get back to regular commercials trying to
sell us products instead of telling us about candidates or issues.
In many ways the 2012 election was very much like every
other election. On a national level, it
was two candidates trying to convince the voters why their ideas are better or
maybe why the other candidate’s ideas won’t work. While every election has had its fair share
of negative campaigning, 2012 did prove to be one of the more vicious elections. Some believe it was this viciousness and lack
of enthusiasm with either candidate which caused voter turnout to dip lower
than 2008 and 2004. Voter turnout
nationally was around 57.5%.
What made 2012 somewhat different was the amount of money
spent. It is estimated between presidential
and congressional campaigns close to $5.8 billion was spent. This number astounds me. The primary parties responsible for the
increase in spending were the numerous Super-PACs (Political Action Committee). The
PACs won a U.S. Supreme Court case (Citizens United vs. Federal Election
Committee) which in essence states the spending of money on political campaigns
is the equivalent of free speech and should not be regulated or suppressed. As a result, while direct
spending by candidates and political parties was down in 2012, the Super-PAC
spending made this the most expensive election in the country’s history.
What do you think of our political process and American
politics? Do you like the ways elections
are conducted? Is there anything you
think should be changed about the process?
What is your reaction to the amount of money spent? Do you think it is money well spent or was it
excessive?
Grace- I don't think I know enough about it to judge it. I do like the fact that the people have a say on who their leaders will be. I keep hearing things about the electoral college, but I don't understand it. If the people get to vote, then why are the votes of the people in the electoral college more important than the ordinary citizens? How do the people in the electoral college get to be in it? I don't mind the way elections are conducted. However, I don't like when people make commercials about why one of the candidates is terrible at their job. Nor do I like how the candidates say how the other candidates' ideas are bad. I think the candidates should focus on what they will do for our country, not what the other candidates will do. I think that they should get rid of the electoral college and just base it on how many citizens vote for each candidate. They make it more complicated than it has to be. I also think that states like New York, that does not require an ID when you vote, should require an ID. Many illegal aliens could easily go to the polls in New York and vote. I think that they shouldn't spend so much money. It's a waste. Of course you want people to vote for you, but you shouldn't pay money for plane tickets to go to every state or whatever. If people want to hear them speak, then they should buy their own plane ticket. I think that the candidates should each be able to pick four or so states to travel to, ones that they think will most affect the votes. If other people who don't live in one of those states wants to hear them speak, then they should travel there. I mean think about what the money could have been used for, like feeding all of the homeless people in the U.S. for a year or pay off some debt. It's ridiculous.
ReplyDeleteRaquel- Im not really in all of the american politics all i really care is about who the presindent is why they make a good president in my eyes.I think the way elections are conducted is that alot of people make a big deal which is alright because we should care who is going/is to be the leader of the United States of America. But some people may get a little out of hand. I dont think that there is any changes needed but maybe a few extremely small changes but minor. I didnt think that much money was involved. Yes i do think that it was an extremely excessive amount of money.
ReplyDeleteNikita- I don't know much about it except that the economy isn't doing very well, though I don't know if thats politics or not. The way the elections are conducted astounds me because instead of the people running telling us what they are going to help us and America with, they go at each other's throats. He did this, he failed this, etc. just doesn't make any sense to me. So, besides that, I really don't think anything needs to be changed about the overall production of the elections. Now, about the money, that is just ridiculous. Almost 6 billion dollars spent for elections when, get this, it stayed the same?! We didn't end up with a new president, so technically, it was like we didn't even need the campaigning! The 6 billion dollars wasted on no change could have been put to good use to build schools, help charities, or, even better, help get us out of the trillions of dollar debt we're in! So, as you can probably see, I don't agree on the use of the money for the election.
ReplyDeleteI do not know much about the political process, until the election for the president and I only know a few of the politics in our country. I do not think that the people should be wailing on each other with words because it really isn’t going to solve anything quicker. I don’t really know how to change it because I don’t know the bad parts about it. I wasn’t sure how they could spend that much money. I thought it was very excessive, because that is a ton of money to be spent every year.
ReplyDeleteThat was Thomas B.
ReplyDeleteI think that our political process is great, and one thing that makes our country great and worth living in. It is one of the many reasons that people move to our country. I think that there is one flaw, and that is that some people who vote can have the WHOLE wrong idea. It can then lead to presidents who bring us into huge debt, or things like that. Because of those events, no single person could right our wrongs, but only ship bits off of the tip of the iceberg. That is why we are here today, trying to dig ourselves out of this rut, but make one mistake, and we are in a deeper rut. I think that the elections are run well, I guess. I don't like the electoral college, due to the fact that the runner up may have gotten more votes, but the winner won the more electoral vote. But like I said before, it is what makes our country awesome. The amount of money that is spent on campaigning is one thing that I would change. TWO BILLION DOLLARS!!! I think that if we want to make people think that we can set the country on the right track, then don't add that amount of money to our already large, and expanding 14 trillion dollar debt. It was an extremely excessive us of money. I can get the point of winning to set the country on the right track, but not to the point of spending all that money. Grace does have a point, though. I do not have enough information, so I cannot judge. Listening to the facts and the numbers, I have formed an opinion (it is just MY opinion, so don't take my word for it. please.)
ReplyDeletePetie-that was Petie by the way
DeleteBailie-I think that our political process and American politics are just fine, but then again I don’t really know much about it. But I do like the way we Americans choose our own leader instead of them being chosen for us. I don’t really like the way the elections are conducted, because it honestly revolves around putting down your opponent to make yourself look better. That’s what I would probably change about the process, all the negative campaigning. I was surprised by the amount of money that was spent. I think it was a bit too excessive because sure you want to get your ideas to people, but $5.8 billion dollars is just way too much for my liking.
ReplyDeleteLiam~ I do pay attention politics, and I think that our system is good, but there are things that can use some improvement, I think that the electoral system definitely has a few kinks, mainly because whenever a candidate loses the electoral vote but wins the popularity vote, there is a huge up-rise. It happened in 2000 and is bound to happen again so I think that we could use some improvement on that system. The money spent on these elections were ridiculous. The president kind of didn't have a choice though, when a rich candidate like Romney steps into play and busts out a bunch of money on campaigning, Obama had to make the best choice for his presidency, he had to match his price, which i don't blame him. So in conclusion I think that the money spent on this was ridiculous, but I don't blame Obama for contributing a lot just to match the price of Romney.
ReplyDeleteAndoni- I believe that our political system is second to none.
ReplyDelete[Although many of you think i'm a communist:] There are a few things that i do not fully understand about our system of government. Like the idea of the electoral college. I think that if someone who the majority of the citizen of the US voted for should be the president. Although it may be an advantage for someone who gets the electoral votes in the places with a larger population.It may be good if the person you want wins this way. There must have been a good reason for this. All i'm saying is i don't understand it. I like how each candidate has a chance to argue the opponents beliefs and say what they believe in. As i said before i don't know much about this but i don't think that the negative campaigning is a good thing for the youth of our country to see and think it's OK. But if it must be done to become president then i guess people will do anything, and that's OK i guess. It's an absurd amount of money spent on their campaigns. But this is a big thing in our country and maybe it shows how much we care about our government ,or maybe not.
Luke- I think our system is fine the way it is. I think that counting the electorial votes make sure that a decent amount of people from each state want him to be elected. However, they do spend a ton of money on these elections which i find it unnecesary. It's rediculous to me that the canadites fly to almost every state in the country just to be in each state for one hour. I like the way the conduct it. The presidential debates are great to see the two canadites and hear their side of what their going to do in office. There is nothing that I can think of that should change the process.I didnt have any reaction. honestly, its not that surprising to me. But it is a huge amount of cash nonetheless. I think the way they spend the money is pointless. I mean, Obama was in Idaho for an hour, and I bet he knew we were not going to change our minds. It was like that for many states he went to, and thats just putting cash in a shredder.
ReplyDeleteKeelie: I think our American politics are very harsh. They are always bashing each other and insulting each other’s beliefs. It’s also funny because they make themselves look bad while trying to make the other look bad. Yes, I do like the ways elections are conducted. No, I don’t think the process should be changed because we’re doing something right if we can say/do the things we do without dying for our opinions. Too much money was spent. I think it was a waste because if you have good ideas and morals people will like you and not your money. I really didn’t watch a lot of the election stuff because it annoyed me.
ReplyDeleteAdriana- I honestly didn't watch ay of the debates or any of the the things so I dont know enough about the process for me to judge it.but what I do like about living in America is that we get to choose and have a say in who our next president will be. Because I don't even know about the process I wouldn't know what to change or what not to change about it. I think that the about of money spent was unbelievable!!!!!!! I think that the amount of money spent was a little excessive. Although some of it went to a good cause it would have been nice to know what we could have done with all that money that was spent son both sides of the campaign.
ReplyDeleteI don't really know much about America' political process to say anything about it. Yeah I think it's good that the people get to vote on who's going to be the next president and it's not just a monarch. If I could change something on the process it would be all the ads that get put on tv because those are annoying. I think that the amount of money spent on the campaign was excessive and that the candidates are just adding to the massive amount of debt that America has.
ReplyDeletethat was justin
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ReplyDeleteHayley: I think that are political process is more harsh than it used to be. Most of the things said in the debate is what the other person is doing wrong and why they are better. I wish that we could go back to when the candidates weren't bashing the other ones head in. With the 2 billion dollars spent we could have given it to the poor. I think that amount of money spent was not worth it and overly excessive.
ReplyDeleteLily- I didn't watch hardly any of the debates so i don't know what to judge it about. It is nice to know that everyone in the US has a right to vote or a say in who should become the next President. I am not shure what I would change or not change about the process because I am unshure. The money spent was unbelievable!!!! I think that the money spent was a little excessive, and could have been spent on other things. The election is really important, but that much money spent is a little excessive.
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ReplyDeleteNathaniel- There are a few things I like about American politics, and many things I dislike. First of all, I think they should REALLY change something with the electoral college. I think it's okay, even great to have one, but there is one major thing I don't like about it. Say that they have counted all the votes in a state, but one candidate loses by a single vote. California consists of 55 electoral votes, and if someone loses by one they get no votes at all. Just because someone loses by one, doesn't mean they shouldn't get any credit at all. But in American politics it does.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing that should be changed is how they count the votes. I don't think they should count the East side before counting the West. Why not count the polls the next day? Whoever the East side in supporting can influence the our choice for presidency, which I feel is slightly unfair.(I think)
There was way to much money spent this year. Congress should just stop all the super-pacs or use them for important things. It was an experiment we should have never tried, and it got way out of our control. People always complain about the national debt rising, and all the election stuff nearly reached $6 billion. If this happened every year (donations for debt) we might actually be able to slowly relieve ourselves from that burden. (Then again it would take a long time.) Or at least help the poor people, or someone with illnesses with no money. If they manage to make everyone not poor anymore, start helping other countries that need it. The amount of money spent was WAY out of line. It's time for a change...
Ryan- I think it's interesting that we spend so much money on just getting the candidates places just so they can speak to us. I also think it's interesting that the candidates make fools of themselves by making fools of the other candidate. Even though I don't care for the fact they spend so much money, I like the debates. I do like how the elections are conducted... in some ways. I might make it so that the candidates spend less money and use it for more important things. I guess it goes without saying that I was shocked at the amount of money spent and didn't think it was spent well.
ReplyDeletePatrick- I beleive that our voting system is understandable, but not completly fair. The electoral college is ok I guess but i don't think it should be based on population because every state has the right to vote so why should one states vote count more than the next? i understand why we spent so much money on this though. If you were running to lead a country you would want people to know! But how much they spend is crazy. We could use it for better things trust me. A portion of the money was spent well but we spent to much! I like that we live in a free country where every single person has a say in there future.
ReplyDeleteWes-I think the process of how we do voting is weird because they start with the east first and then do the west side which is very different. Also, there are way to many ads and a lot of taxes being put on the poor. There is a lot taxes NOT being put on the wealthy and this is causing some problems. And the money that we have is sometimes used on stuff we do not need than what we do need. I totally think that none of that money should have been spent because in the end there was no real change and that money could have been used to feed thousands. So I completely thought it was excessive money used.
ReplyDeleteTodd- It is not the best but it is the only one we have. I don’t like the way the elections are conducted because I feel that the candidates have so many ads on TV. I think that most of them are not nice and they say things that are not always true. The amount of money spent is terrible! We could be spending that type of money on other thing like finding cures to dieses, or helping the poor. The money is defiantly not spent wisely, like I said we could be spending it on other things.
ReplyDeleteRylie: I think that are processes are okay. in sense they are good, but sometimes i wonder why we have to spend all that money on campain ads? No, I do not like how they are conducted because, there are so many ads. It's like yes we get it, you want us to vote for them. They don't get how some people don't care for ads, that some care for what they are going to do to make our country better. Yes a lot should be changed on the processes. We have come a lot since many other elections. Some good, others not so great. I was astonished to think that those sponsers spent all that money, when it could have been gone to our ever-growing debt. Or even charity. It was way to much money spent on ads for a campain.
ReplyDeleteTomas- I think the process of the elction is bad because the electoral votes are more important. i think that every vote should count. there were some presidents that had won the popular vote but lost the election with electoral votes. what a country we are to spend so much money on China making our stuff. China is making a profit out of us. its disgraceful.
ReplyDeleteNatalie- I like the way our elections are. Candidates try to get Americans to vote for them by expressing their ideas for our country. This election was... pretty vicious. They made more commercials criticizing each other than most peoople have ever seen before. I think that presidential candidates should focus more on talking to and convincing their voters, instead of eating away at each other in their commercials and ads. I had heard about that $5.8 billion being spent before, and I was honestly appalled. Why would anyone spend that much money on something? Especially if you weren't guaranteed to win! I think that money could have been much better spent! It could have gone to, you know, mabye scaling down the gargantuan debt we've built up over the years? Or mabye it could have gone to improving our country in some way, instead of plane tickets and commercials? My point is it could have definitely been better spent.
ReplyDeleteNekane-Well I dont know much about politics. but from what i hear i dont think its going very well at all. Kina but its like these people are arguing over and over again. I think its crazy and the amout they spent is mind blowing. Things are way to expencive now. people lose there job and are in dett now its crazy.
ReplyDeleteLauryn-I don't like our political process. I am against the whole electoral vote thing. I think the winner should be based on popular vote. And American politics can get pretty crazy. I personally like competition but I think this year they took it to far. I somewhat like how the elections are conducted but I wish there wasn't so many debates. And that in the debates they focused on the question not the other candidate. I think the amount of money spent is ridiculous! If they are going to use that much money it should be used on building more trees because they used so much paper for the ballots. The money was not used wisely at all.
ReplyDeleteSydney-I dont really like the way we vote. I'm okay with it, but i think it would be more fair if we just kept what the people thought. They should only count the popular votes.Campaigning this year was very crazy. I feel like this was one of the most chaotic elections! The money amount was tremendous and I think people should have spent their money on something other than campaigning. The amount of money spent was way to excessive.
ReplyDeleteAubrie-I do knot know enough about the political process to judge or say too much about it but I do not mind how it is conducted it just seams that the whole thing is going on for forever. I think that there is a lot more than necessary money and effort that goes into this than there should be. If there one one thing that I could change about the political process it would be of how long the whole process takes. Every time that the television is turned on it seams like there was some thing about the election. I think that the amount of money that was spent on the campaign/election this year was way to excessive because all of the money that was used for the election and the processes could of been used for something of more significance.
ReplyDeleteNate- I think that our system is fair and good. As far as the Electoral College goes, I think that maybe should change. States like Idaho are basically nonexistant in the election because of it. The amount of money spent by both sides in the election race was ridiculous. We are spending money on getting elected while really that money could have gone into our country and it's desperate economy.
ReplyDeleteMegan- I think we as a country have one of the best systems out there. The elections are for the most part fair, but recently they have become just brutal. The elections for the people are fair, but some citizens just go off of popular vote. I would change it to the candidates have a limit on how much they could spent on advertising. Idaho is pretty Republican, so we don't see a lot of signs. But for other states, they are just flooded. I think this is a waste of money. We should go off of their beliefs, not there faces.
ReplyDeleteJohn-Our country has a really good politic system and thats a good thing to have in order to be a good country. I think the elections are cunducted okay, I also think that are elections have gotten out of hand and thats why i think their should be some changes. I think our country should change how we base the votes on, I think the popular vote is the most important because it is all of the votes in the USA and i think it should lower the electrol votes as not as important. I think we have spent a lot of money ,but most of it is for good reasons and not for something bad that cost a lot of money and it is useless.
ReplyDeleteClaire - Our elections process is ok but there are lots of ads and they are no so good because they waste money. It is important to vote. The ads are confusing and don't always tell the truth. They just try to make each other look bad. They should change the length of the campaign time so they don't waste so much time on advertising and campaigns.
ReplyDeleteLiza- I think American politics are a good way to keep America free because people can choose and have that freedom to choose. The Elections are all about the people so of course I like the way the elections are held. The only thing i would change is the fact that because of the majority Idaho is republican right off the bat. I think every vote should be counted very carefully. I'm really irritated at the amount of the amount of money spent. I think that money should have gone towards keeping us off the fiscal cliff and to the homeless. It was to excessive and stupid. America needs to stop doing whatever it is doing and get us OFF THE FISCAL CLIFF!!
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