It’s not exactly true that “every Tom, Dick and Harry” is running for president, but it seems like it.  There are, so far, at least two Toms, two Johns, a Sam, a Joe and a Mike.  They are joined by Dennis, Duncan, Barack, Rudy, Mitt and Hillary.  Who knows who else might surface (a Newt? an  Al?).

Now if you, an op-ed reader of the Tennessean have trouble immediately thinking of all the last names, think about the poor folks who don’t have the time or inclination to do so.  It will take a lot for these candidates to become known.  In fact, most experts say that it will take between $50 million to $100 million to be truly viable in a national primary.  Then these candidates will have to run as a presidential nominee. Most knowledgeable observers predict that each nominee will spend $500 million on the general election.

There’s something wrong when it takes more to run a presidential campaign than it would to buy the Tennessee Titans, the Dallas Cowboys, and the New York Yankees.  Actually, the $2-$3 billion dollars which will be spent between now and November of 2008 could buy a lot of things, but, unfortunately it won’t necessarily buy America an educated electorate.

We all share in the blame for this situation. As we demand 10-second sound bites, 30-second commercials and one-liners that define our candidates we are selling ourselves short.  Eventually we may dig into the candidates’ platforms to ferret out more substance, but how many of us will take the time to do so?  Not many, I think.

Is there a better way?  I would hope so. However, it seems that every time we take the appropriate steps to put limits on the spenders and the spending (e.g. Feingold-McCain Election Reform Act), campaign experts quickly devise ways to skirt the restrictions while escalating the dollars.  We see a pattern of over exposure and under communication.  Maybe one place to start would be with the media, who can pledge to devote more time and space to discuss, in a civilized manner, actual issues. I think we have all reached our threshold of entertainment with the spin-meisters who shout over one another.  Some responsible media already offer us some sane options, but, sadly, few watch and read.

To effect real change, it’s going to have to come from us, the voters.  Someday we will get fed up and say: enough already!  Let’s put limits on time and money; let’s hear and see what the candidates actually have to say and find out who they are and what they believe.  A pipe dream?  Well, not if every Tom, Dick and Harry……