Knapp on Campaign Spending

My internet buddy, Tom Knapp (whose blog actually inspired me to start this one), makes a good point while discussing the recent Supreme Court decision freeing individuals from campaign spending limits:

"Question #1: How much did federal elected officials spend on their 2014 campaigns last year?

Answer:  At least $3.45 trillion — a little over $6.4 billion for each US Senator and US Representative and for the two elected executive branch officials, the president and vice-president.

Yes, I’m talking about the federal government’s entire budget.

Every dollar the US government spends serves one or both of two functions: Buying future support or rewarding past support for the politicians who spend it."

He's got a point, and it applies to lower offices as well.