Better to be wealthy or have wealthy friends

MIAMI – A piece of advice to anyone considering a run for the U.S. House of Representatives: You better be wealthy or have wealthy friends and benefactors willing to spend money on you.

If your plans call for a more idealistic shoestring campaign where you knock on doors and actually meet the voters; one where you qualify by getting a percentage of voters to sign affidavits to sidestep the more than $10,000 you need to qualify; then I tip my hat to you. It might even turn out to be an enlightening experience, especially if you’re a high school history or civics teacher. Or maybe you’re delving into what the Greeks were talking about when they invented democracy. But as for winning… give me a break!

One million dollars in the bank is no longer enough in American politics.

No wonder some political pundits are talking plutocracy. A free Internet dictionary I use defines plutocracy as “A government or state in which the wealthy rule.” Sound familiar?

Here’s a list of Florida congressional candidates with the most money to spend, as of now. Please note that the big money has yet to roll in. The primaries, remember, are in September, the actual election in November. The info comes from Sarasota’s Herald Tribune:

1. Rep. Patrick Murphy (D–Jupiter): $2.67 million – Six republicans are battling it out to challenge Murphy in Novembers. This race is considered a toss-up. The fact is Murphy will need more money.
2. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Miami): $1.91 million – Ros-Lehtinen has NO challenger this year. She’s still stocking up, though. This money can be used in future races. Or, she can always accumulate it and keep it if she ever decides to retire. Yes, the law allows you to keep money you have in the bank as a member of congress if you call it quits.
3. Rep. Joe Garcia (D-Miami): $1.86 million – There are five republicans in the primary race. Carlos Curbelo, as you will see in this list’s number 6 spot, looks like a possible challenger. And Curbelo has proven to be a good fundraiser – especially for someone who is not an incumbent. This will end up being a very expensive race.
4. Gwen Graham (D-Tallahassee): $1.57 million – Ms. Graham is challenging incumbent Steve Southerland. As the daughter of a former Florida governor and U.S. senator, Graham can race money, as she is showing.
5. Rep. Steve Southerland (D-Panama City): $1.39 million – Seeking a third term, Southerland is vulnerable. He’s running against a better-financed daughter of a Florida icon. (See number 4)
6. Carlos Curbelo (R-Miami): $884,000 – Curbelo seems to be the one to challenge Joe Garcia in November. (See number 3)
7. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Longboat Key): $748,000 – Buchanan, first elected in 2006, is being challenged by Democrat Henry Lawrence. Buchanan has also been recognized by national publications as one of the nation’s most corrupt politicians.
8. Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-Ponte Vedra Beach): $743,000 – DeSantis is a northeast Florida republican. He is being challenged by a man with $2,000 in his bank account.
9. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa): $730,000 – Like Ileana at number 2, Castor is unopposed.
10. Rep. Bill Posey (R-Rockledge): $606,000 – Here’s another case of an incumbent being challenged by a poorly financed individual with $4,300 in the bank.

And these 10 represent the lower house of congress. A senate race is much more expensive. As for this year’s governor’s race, expect the two leading candidates to exceed the $100 million mark in expenditures.

So let me ask you: Plutocracy or democracy? I’d like to hear your opinion.