LOCAL politics is for the moneyed. If you’re running for councilor in a small town, at least you will need a million or two for final ops the eve before the election day. You will need 10 folds of the figure if you’re bidding for mayor. The cost of getting elected gets even higher in bigger towns and cities with scores of thousands of voters. Rumors had it that winning candidates had to invest personal money by the tens of millions. So only those moneyed get to the post.
Politicos with no money will attempt to ride on the moneyed trail of candidates at the national level. That is where CONA becomes critical to poor politicians at the local levels whose only hope of getting oiled comes from party support. That is why a presidential election like this one becomes more exciting as costly campaign logistics and aggressive campaign operations would be inarguably necessary down to the local levels. Hence, serious candidates who understand this, and the unforgiving dynamics of our politics would resort to schemes, just to have a better chance of getting elected.
If you don’t have money, forget it. You won’t make it. You can try hard only to get disappointed. You will never win an election under the present culture of politics.
But if you can have people to bankroll your campaign trail, and who will spend extra more for the final ops, and or compete against the well-oiled political machinery, you might have the chance to get noticed by voters.
Still, the willingness of a solid support group to launch a decent campaign with no considerations – monetary or otherwise, is still the most powerful. That would require an extraordinary leader. Someone who inspires and draws people. Of their kinds and breed, you will seldom see now. They’re very rare. I wonder what has become of the rare breed of leaders – the truly charismatic ones with a message, who can rally a movement and force a culture of change.
I sadly find the want unacceptable. Who will rise to the call of cultural change in my generation will remain yet a foreboding conviction.