What is at stake in the 2012 elections? The 2012 Presidential Election is close and election day not simply for the Office for the President but also for members of the United States House and United States Senate is fast approaching. The Republicans control the United States House of Representatives. The Democrats control the United States Senate. What is at stake in the 2012 election cycle is control of the Office of the President, the United States House of Representatives as well as the United States Senate and most importantly the course of the nation.
All this political power at the national level up for grabs has brought out big money in a big way. The political muscle of the 1%ers has primarily been deployed through multi-million dollar advertising buys targeting candidates on both television and the Internet. The Republican Super PACs have spent $260 million on advertising campaigns, according to FEC reports and press releases and expected to spend another 40 million dollars on this election cycle.[i] The majority of that — $171.5 million — has gone to ads intended to help defeat President Barack Obama. Another $66.3 million has been put toward Senate races and $11.6 million toward House races. [ii]
In the 2012 election cycle, we have seen the most money ever spent on political ads in American history. With that said, will Americans and the world wake on Wednesday, November 7, 2012, to find that big money has bought and paid for the Office of the President and control of the United States House and the United States Senate? What will a victory for big money supported candidates mean for America and the world? To answer that question, let’s look at, What is at stake in the 2012 elections?
The next United States President will select several appointees for the United States Supreme Court. Additionally, on the table is the question of how we as a national will handle key questions concerning the public welfare including but not limited to: taxes, unemployment, health care, social welfare programs, defense, women’s right to self-determination, and our nation’s infrastructure. How will it affect US foreign policy?
The vision for our nation’s road to recovery by the Presidential Candidates has never been starker. The Republican Candidate for President, Governor Mitt Romney’s view of America has received much financial support from individuals that have been termed the 1% (i.e. Charles and David Koch) as it benefits them greatly. The Democrat Candidate for President, President Barack Obama, has received diverse support from persons of varied income levels. Obama has received support from both the 99% as well as members of the 1% such as billionaire business man, George Soros..
As the proponents of voter suppression measures (.i.e. Voter ID Laws, etc.) struck down by many courts in several key states understand, the only power that can overcome big money is people power. As was aptly stated by President Johnson when discussing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, “The vote is the most powerful instrument ever devised by man for breaking down injustice and destroying the terrible walls which imprison men because they are different from other men.”
Each election day, countless eligible voters deprive themselves of their voting right through complacency or apathy. Don’t be among them—exercise your right to vote.
Recent Comments