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Campaigns went too far with spending and negative ads
By Anthony McConnell
Trail Editor
Every two years we, as Americans, go through a very trying time. We are bombarded by negativity on television, radio and print. Thankfully, as you read these words, this season is finally over. This most dreadful of times is called election season, and this past one has been among the worst.
In elections across America, candidates have spent more than $2.5 billion. This is just sickening. Even Wyoming is not immune to excessive spending on campaigns. According to the Billings Gazette, in the race for governor Ray Hunkins raised more than $420,000 on his campaign and Gov. Dave Freudenthal raised more than $1.1 million for his re-election. All of this money was raised for a gubernatorial race in a state with a population less than 500,000 – less than half of whom are even eligible to vote.
There is something wrong with this. Gov. Freudenthal could have bought the election for cheaper. Heck, all he would have had to do is send a few volunteers to the polls with sacks of money and poof, the election is his. He would have had money left over to boot.
The real atrocity here is what this money was used for. It could be justified if the candidates had used the money to spread their message, but instead they used it to spread a message of hate. Most, if not all of the candidates, are guilty of this.
As Nov. 7 grew closer it became harder and harder to avoid the negative aspects of this year’s campaign. If you turned on the TV, there were ads telling you how evil candidate B was and how candidate A was going to make everything better. But that’s not the worst of it. The citizens, Wyoming and U.S. just sat back and did nothing.
These kinds of shenanigans should never be tolerated by the populace. When did the people become so pacified? There was a day when people expected their candidates to run on the issues. They hoped a difference would be made. People wanted their elected officials, whether it be senator, congressperson or city councilperson, to change the world and the candidates wanted the same thing.
Now the people just want the election to be over and the candidates to just go away. Well they got their wish if only for two more years. But will anything change in those two years? Probably not. Sure some senator or congressperson will make a stink – most likely John McCain – but nothing will really happen. Why? There is no public outrage, no active public outcry for change.
If you don’t want a repeat of the dirty campaigning in 2006, get mad. Shout it from the rooftops. If you don’t, then nothing will ever change and you will only have yourself to blame.