Possible Hometown Costs to Me in 1999

What I am talking about is the estimated 20+ million dollar cost of becoming President of the United States. I mean, who has that kind of money, at least here in Lancaster County? I sure do not!

But then I remembered that a specific, American fighter jet costs 100 million. So I thought, maybe that means that a presidency is about equal to a tail section of this plane. It seemed like a fair trade-off, at first.

However, afterwards, I became glum. I realized that most of that 20+ million would come from a small circle of national contributors, and that very little of it would be generated here in Lancaster County. Unfortunately, the political truism that 'money holds sway' yet remains so. Thus, my small County in that political universe might be likely to have minor to zero influence in who becomes the President, or what happens beyond the inauguration.

"Well, so be it," I concluded, although that notion itself was rather unsettling. Instead, I decided that I could make some really important contributions, here, in the upcoming political races in this County. In fact, I did not even have to have money to make a genuine difference. And, the local politicians would welcome my spirited efforts on their behalves. Furthermore, these same office-seekers would be likely to know me by sight and by name, because they would have met me, and would remember how I had helped. In other words, I would be seen as an interested participant, and not as a potential wheel barrow full of dollars.

Hmmmmm. As I said, I am still thinking about all of this.