Vilsack Quits Race for President

From CNN:

DES MOINES, Iowa (CNN) -- Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack said Friday he is pulling out of the 2008 Democratic race for president, citing financial difficulties in a campaign that lasted 15 weeks.

Vilsack, 56, said he would have continued if it weren't for the large amounts of money he would need for a a campaign.

"The reality, however, is that this process has become to a great extent about money, a lot of money," he said. "And it is clear to me that we would not be able to continue to raise money in the amounts necessary to sustain, not just a campaign in Iowa and New Hampshire, but a campaign across this country.

"It is money -- and only money -- the reason we are leaving today."

The money required to wage a successful campaign for political office is directly correllated to the size of the government's budget. If you want to get money out of politics you first have to get politics out of money.

Former North Carolina Speaker of the House, Jim Black, just pleaded guilty to corruption charges stemming from payoffs he received from special interests and bribes he paid to colleagues in order to retain his speaker position. North Carolina's Governor Easley (both Democrats) blamed Black's behavior on "human frailty." No, his behavior was not exogenous, but was instead endogenous to the size and scope of the state's government. As government controls more and more of the productive capacity of a nation or a state there's an increased incentive to accept bribes from special interests seeking some of the loot or legislation giving them an unfair advantage over their more efficient competitors. Political corruption at all levels will increase (not necessarily get caught) the more we coordinate the activities of society through the political process and away from voluntary cooperation and association. This will of course attract more and more of the worst elements of society seeking to control the levers that produce payoffs and bribes.