Response to "Occupy K Street"

Once again, Mr. Kaplan takes up the empty cry of campaign finance reform.

Take the multimillion dollar onslaught of California gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman. Despite her wearying blanket advertising over the air waves and other extensive financial disbursements, the former EBay CEO could not buy her way into the Governor's mansion.

Incumbent John Corzine in New Jersey spent himself out to win reelection in New Jersey's 2009 gubernatorial context, yet an outspent conservative Republican carried the day, and in a state with voters registered 2-to-1 Democratic.

Despite the huge investment in media, political candidates must appeal to voters with both style and substance. Money is not the problem in politics. Besides, this nation spends billions more on snack foods and cable TV than on who are future leaders and legislators will be.

The problem has been that not enough people were telling their elected officials what they wanted and holding them accountable to deliver on their demands.

Rather than the lack or the over abundance of money, the "Tea Party Movement" and the "Occupy Wall Street" populist uprisings are manifesting at the grass roots level what has been much needed yet sorely lacking for so long in American political discourse.

I am glad to see Americans from all walks of life rising up, demanding change in their leaders. Even if the more "left-wing" opposition emerging in front of Wall Street and Corporate America has not formed a consistent message and political agenda, their outrage at elitist bailouts and distant politicians is both refreshing and riveting!