The purpose of these conventions is to allow delegates from each party a chance to nominate their candidate, who will contest in the Presidential election in November, and for the adoption of the party platform, which is the statement of principles and policy proposals for the campaign.
This year, the Democrats have nominated President Barack Obama and the Republican Party has nominated Mitt Romney, after he won the parties State Primary Elections earlier this year. The Conventions are held every four years, a few months before the November General Election. They last for about four days with much of this time taken up by official party business and proceedings as well as key note speakers and other party officials, whom the chance to speak in support of the nominated candidate.
I am not from the USA , and I am amazed by the amount of money spent and the Hollywood
style Spectacle that the National Conventions have become. At this year’s Conventions
a number of Hollywood stars have came out of the wood
work in support of the candidates and their parties. The Republican Party had Hollywood film star and producer Clint Eastwood, and the Democrats had the services of film star Scarlett Johansson. All of these speeches by the candidates and their supporters were toped off by a concert like atmosphere with in the venues, with some of the the biggest musical bands and singers in America performing at the conventions
After watching some of the coverage
of the Conventions and the election process in general, I feel that American
society and politics thrives on an over the top patriotic spectacle.
From my knowledge, no other country spends as much money or time campaigning to elect a leader. This years election is predicted to cost the individual parties and candidates about one billion dollars, with most coming from corporate and public donations.
InAustralia , elections are cheap compared to the US. I don’t think Federal elections in Australia
cost even any where near one hundred million dollars. Although the long time
spent officially campaigning is due to how the US
political system works, especially for the party not holding office, but surely
over two years is a little excessive. Romney as the contending candidate had to
start campaigning over two years ago, if not longer. He had to first contest
the Republican Party Primaries, to be elected the parties candidate, and now
needs to campaign against Obama to became President.
From my knowledge, no other country spends as much money or time campaigning to elect a leader. This years election is predicted to cost the individual parties and candidates about one billion dollars, with most coming from corporate and public donations.
In
I personally think that all that
money and effort to elect a President could be spent trying to solve the many
problems that American society face.
For Information about the US Election system see the link below:
