Convention costs are not adding up
Now that the big, expensive spectacles are over, the long road to the White House has hit the expressway leading to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, D.C.
The campaigning for the presidency, dating back to the beginning of 2007, is heading into the final stages.
At last, Americans can finally hear what their choice will be come Nov. 4.
The recently concluded conventions have given shape and form to the election in a uniquely American way. There isn't another country in the world that would conduct a two-year campaign and feature a festival of political fervor for each major political party along the way.
But the conventions, expensive, staged and spectacular, serve a point: Americans get to know the package, the men and women who are asking to serve at the highest levels of our government.
There is something to be said for each party's character in each nuanced detail of the exquisitely planned shows.
The videos blazed across massive walls, each spoken word and scene meant to evince emotion and attraction, the towering sets expressing grandeur and somehow, humility, all at the same time.
The American system of electing its presidents is, sadly, running far afield with two-year campaigns and the myriad opportunities for influence brokering in investing in the campaigns and their staffs.
Though there are hard rules about how much can be directly invested into an individual's campaign, there are no limits on what special interest groups can spend, especially around convention time, when the parties abound and the chance to mingle is constant.
There are estimates that the 2004 conventions each cost about $90 million each, and $50 million in federal money was spent on each convention this year, not counting private and corporate and political donations to the various events in the convention cities.
That's enough money to build the new bridge from Wellsburg to Brilliant and, potentially then-some if the private donations are factored in.
It's not to say the long primary and political convention system doesn't work.
In this year's case, we have high drama ahead with clearly delineated choices, memorable moments, quips and quotes and the chance to learn which version of the American Dream the voters want this time around.
The problem is that it's an expensive system that dates back to days long before high-tech, instantaneous communications.
The question is, should Americans be ready to spend their money a little more wisely than eight days worth of conventioneering just to finally, after 18 months, reach the all-out spring to the White House?
The solution is tough to see when such an intriguing campaign season is upon us.
