My jaw just hit the floor and did not stop falling until it hit the basement... Not that I ever believed in democracy of two-party systems but that is more outrageous than I thought.<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Sun, Oct 4, 2009 at 2:41 AM, Andrew Norton <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:ktetch@gmail.com">ktetch@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><div class="im">On Sat, Oct 3, 2009 at 6:32 PM, Eric Priezkalns<br>
<<a href="mailto:eric.priezkalns@pirateparty.org.uk">eric.priezkalns@pirateparty.org.uk</a>> wrote:<br>
<br>
><br>
> How I wish we had a similar system in the UK! You civilized continentals<br>
> are so much more refined than we brutish Brits. Our situation is not nearly<br>
> as bad as the US, but the need to manage a lot of money changes the whole<br>
> dynamic of politics.<br>
<br>
</div>Those wondering what he means by that...<br>
in 2002, the average campaign expenditure for an open house seat (one<br>
that doesn't have someone seeking reelection) was $1.02Million for the<br>
democrats, and 1.08M for republicans. Even the incumbent spent around<br>
$800,000. The amount goes up every year, more so in a presidential<br>
election year (every 4 years to house elections every 2 years).<br>
Basically, the Us party would have to spend $1.5Million+ just to have<br>
a chance at winning a House seat for 2 years, and that's after a state<br>
party is formed, and the ballot for that state done.<br>
<br>
It's a horrendous money pit.<br>
<font color="#888888"><br>
Andrew<br>
</font><div><div></div><div class="h5">____________________________________________________<br>
Pirate Parties International - General Talk<br>
<a href="mailto:pp.international.general@lists.pirateweb.net">pp.international.general@lists.pirateweb.net</a><br>
<a href="http://lists.pirateweb.net/mailman/listinfo/pp.international.general" target="_blank">http://lists.pirateweb.net/mailman/listinfo/pp.international.general</a><br>
</div></div></blockquote></div><br>