Money Chase For Congress Is Ridiculous

I have just finished reading Gary Pinnell's article "The Money Chase" for the third time. I become more disillusioned each time I read it. Is that what elections are about, raising money? There are four candidates running for Congress.

Let us start with Congressman Tim Mahoney. He has already raised $2.5 million. Why does he need $2.5 million? One would think that if he were doing a good job, people would re-elect him. Does he feel that he needs to "buy" his re-election? Does he have any doubts that he has "represented" his constituents? According to the latest polls, the public has given Congress single digit approval. Apparently, the public does not think Congressman Mahoney has "represented" them. Okay, maybe he will need at least $2.5 million dollars to "buy" the seat once again.

Now, let's start with Mr. Hal Valeche on the Republican side. According to Gary Pinnell, Valeche has already put half a million dollars of his own money into his campaign. According to Gary Pinnell, Mr. Valeche said "We're raising money the old fashioned way." I always thought that if you take money out of your own pocket, it was to "purchase" something. Where did Mr. Valeche get his millions? He is an ex-Wall Street banker. That is just what we need, an ex-New Yorker representing the 16th congressional district here in Florida. And what is his experience? He is a member of a city council. That should provide him with "tons" of experience in legislative matters to represent us in Washington. Sure.

And now for Mr. Tom Rooney. According to the flood of literature I have received. He is qualified to be a congressman because he has served in the armed services. Well, so has Mr. Valeche. They should be commended for their service. However, millions of other men and women, many who sacrificed their lives, also have served. That does not qualify those millions to be in Congress. Another qualification is that he is an attorney who served as an assistant attorney general. Great, just what we need, another attorney in Washington, as if we do not have too many already. I have been told that the reason we have so many complicated and wordy laws is that they have been primarily written by attorneys.

Again, I have been flooded with literature. I have also received quite a bit from Ms. Gayle Harrell. However, there seems to be a difference. Both Valeche and Rooney "claim" to be conservative. It appears that Ms. Harrell has "proven" she is conservative. Her voting record in the Florida House of Representatives over the past eight years has been consistently conservative. It seems to me that the past experience in the Florida House provides us with someone who has the legislative history to handle herself in Congress without a "training" session of two or more years.

We need action now; we do not need someone who has to learn the ropes. We are in a critical period now, not two to three years from now. Oh, one more thing, Ms. Harrell is a former teacher. Wouldn't that be refreshing, actually having someone who knows the needs of children, parents and the neighborhood rather than big money "ex-Wall Street" bankers and wealthy attorneys. But alas, it seems that "money" is the final say.

It appears that Ms. Harrell worked very hard to gather signatures to get on the ballot. Mr. Valeche and Mr. Rooney bought their way on the ballot. I guess that is one of "the old-fashioned ways." Why work when you can buy your way on the ballot. I am much more impressed with workers than those who use their money to get what they want.

When I was a small boy, many many years ago, my parents told me I should live by The Golden Rule. It seems that the Golden Rule has changed. It seems that the new Golden Rule is "He who has the gold, rules."