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Elections have become auctions. The candidate with the most amount of money will win the position, regardless of their qualifications or previous experience. This statement is true for most, if not all elections. There has to be action taken to prevent candidates from "buying" their way into office. Only then will our political system work the way it is supposed to and people will truly care about the government. The amount of money spent on elections currently is absurd. The federal elections monetarily equated to over $3 billion in 2000, with tens, perhaps hundreds of millions in additional cash spent by interest groups and state and local party organizations. This amount has nearly doubled the 1992 total. Together, the House of Representatives and Senate candidates had spent just under a billion dollars in 2000, which is up 30 percent from 1996. On average, the winning parties spent about $900,000 in 2000; this is nearly double the 1992 figure. A Senate seat cost the average candidate between $7 and $8 million in 2000, up nearly 60 percent from 1996 (TDD pg. 205). As a result of the high price tag on these elections senators interested in serving another term have to raise $5,500 each day they are in office, while House members must raise $1,500 each day (TDD pg.
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