The story of Rick Scott, his bid for Florida’s governor mansion and his campaign’s spending on a spectacular media blitz has been all over the news lately.  It has been reported that he has spent over 22 million dollars trying to get face time with the people of Florida and has recently reported that he will not take a salary when elected.  It has also been reported that since McCollum cannot raise enough money to combat Scott’s spending, and since Scott has spent beyond the limits set by the state, McCollum will now receive a dollar for dollar match from a state fund.

While I do not support either of these candidates, I find it hard to imagine that presumably tax dollars, which I helped to contribute, will be doled out to someone that I do not support.

I may find it refreshing that a candidate is not out asking for contributions.  It certainly does remedy the thought that he may be beholden to some special interest group or a particular company that supported his campaign with their contributions.  This is one part of campaign fund raising that I have never understood, which the Supreme Court recently made even easier for these groups to control the outcome of elections.

I guess my questions are:  1) Why do elections always boil down to how much money is raised and spent, 2) How can a candidate, if elected, remain unbiased should the particular group come before them after being elected, 3) If the government can find the money to pay out to McCollum, why not set up a fund for all potential candidates, whereby a predetermined amount of money will be given out, depending on the position.  These funds are equal for everyone in that race, all the way down to the local levels, and stops all of the campaign fund raising that may, or may not, cause impropriety for the elected ones.  This would give everyone the same opportunity, even brilliant people that may not be able to raise millions for the particular race.  In my mind it would make all things equal and provide the American public with true choice that is not tainted by cash.  I believe that this would force a more grassroots approach to the campaigning process.