Biggest bankroll doesn’t mean leader

Isn’t it a shame that what we hear about first and most often in the news concerning the upcoming presidential election, is how much money each candidate has raised?

It is as if the candidate who has the largest financial backers, i.e. big business, big political machines and big lobbies, is assumed to automatically be the leader in the race. This is the message being portrayed to voters.

It is true that the more funding a candidates’ “political machine” raises, the more coverage they will receive in the news from travelling around our country, gaining exposure, and from radio, TV and newspaper ads and from the glut of yard signs which read “Vote for ….”, which tell absolutely nothing about the candidates platform or proposed programs they stand for.

It is as if the voting public are felt to be a group of mindless robots who are impressed with a candidate’s bankroll, rather than their stand on the difficult issues facing our country.

Big money political “advertising” relies on name recognition, rather than on issues, to sway voters their direction. The more times you see a candidate’s name on a (meaningless) sign, the more apt you are to vote for them. This is their contention. Don’t be fooled by big money.

If you aren’t aware of the candidate’s platform and how they will affect the progress of our country if elected, then please do those of us who are, a favor — don’t vote.

Vote the big money?

Be smarter than they give you credit for.

RAY BROWN

Snohomish

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Opinion

toon
Editorial cartoons for Saturday, Feb. 8

A sketechy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

bar graph, pie chart and diagrams isolated on white, 3d illustration
Editorial: Don’t let state’s budget numbers intimidate you

With budget discussions starting soon, a new website explains the basics of state’s budget crisis.

Comment: Democracy depends on support of local journalism

A state bill provides funding to support local news outlets through a modest tax on tech businesses.

Comment: Love is intoxicating; romance doesn’t have to be

Navigating sobriety while dating, with Valentine’s Day coming up, is possible and fulfilling.

Comment: State attempt at single-payer health care bound to fail

Other states have tried, but balked when confronted with the immense cost to state taxpayers.

Forum: Requiem for a lost heavyweight: Sports Illustrated

SI, with Time and NatGeo, were a holy trinity for me and my dad. Now, it’s a world of AI clickbait.

Forum: Political leaders should leave trash talk to ballplayers

Verbal intimidation is one thing on the basketball court; it shouldn’t have a place in our politics.

The Buzz: Why, no, we have complete trust in Elon Musk

But whatever he and Trump are doing to the country, could they please wish it into the cornfield?

Curtains act as doors for a handful of classrooms at Glenwood Elementary on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024 in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Editorial: Schools’ building needs point to election reform

Construction funding requests in Arlington and Lake Stevens show need for a change to bond elections.

FILE- In this Nov. 14, 2017, file photo Jaìme Ceja operates a forklift while loading boxes of Red Delicious apples on to a trailer during his shift in an orchard in Tieton, Wash. Cherry and apple growers in Washington state are worried their exports to China will be hurt by a trade war that escalated on Monday when that country raised import duties on a $3 billion list of products. (Shawn Gust/Yakima Herald-Republic via AP, File)
Editorial: Trade war would harm state’s consumers, jobs

Trump’s threat of tariffs to win non-trade concessions complicates talks, says a state trade advocate.

A press operator grabs a Herald newspaper to check over as the papers roll off the press in March 2022 in Everett. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald file photo)
Editorial: Push back news desert with journalism support

A bill in the state Senate would tax big tech to support a hiring fund for local news outlets.

toon
Editorial cartoons for Friday, Feb. 7

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.