Elections

Every year I see a place on the ballot that is either devoid of a name and request a write in or has only one name to vote for. In these cases I write my own name in. I then ask everyone I know, who intends to vote, to do the same. So far I have been very unsuccessful.
On the positive side this year was my best campaign ever. I received three votes aside from my own. That's three times the amount of votes I normally receive.
This year's election got me thinking. "What would happen if I did stumble into a political position. Just by my simplistic manner of campaigning for apparently unwanted posts?"
I will be honest. I don't really know the whole in and out of all the legalities in elections. From what I can tell of the current elections very few people do. Those that actually do know are lawyers for individuals running. Even then it seems no one really cares if you follow the rules unless the election is a brutal "Mud throwing" event. You know, no one cares unless you are beating them.
I do believe, that should I get accidentally elected, I would immediately disqualified. If I don't fill out the proper paper work, disclose all my expenses or even announce my intent to run I believe I am not really qualified as a legitimate candidate.
I could be wrong and anyone out there in please let me know. I just find it sort of ironic. If you happen to be the best choice in a community, no matter who you are, and a majority of the citizens decide on election day instead of the candidates on the ballot they want this other person. So low and behold this write in is elected but then disqualified because of paper work. Doesn't seem very democratic to me. I guess the rules are set up this way to prevent Bart Simpson from winning the presidency. Who knows.
I think a bigger problem in elections today are the inequity. You cannot run for most political positions without at least being monetarily comfortable. In Louisville it cost an estimated $500,000 just to run for city council. In the last election for council members most persons running stopped working at least a year a head of time to focus on their campaign. Who the Hell can afford not to work for a year?!
It seems that our current election system is exclusive not inclusive as it is meant to be. I know it would be argued that any person who wishes to run for a political position can. It doesn't matter race, religion, sex, orientation, place of birth (except in presidential campaigns) or monetary standing. But look at the current presidential race. It is widely reported that unless you raise a certain number of millions you are not a serious candidate. Millions?
Do you know the last time we had a president who was NOT a millionaire?
I don't, can't find anything on the web about it either. Lots of items about their wealth, but precious little about "poor" presidents.
The wealthy can buy more ad time. They can set up and have more fund raisers and for that matter have much wealthier people attend the fundraisers. They can afford handlers and campaign advisers. They can afford to set up and maintain campaign headquarters someplace other than their basement. They have many connections to wealthy people with power and connections. The list goes on and on, but what about the poor guy who might actually make an amazing elected official? Well they have just got to hang it up until they make it big.
I will never understand how people think a person who has never worried what's going to happen when your landlord gets a bounced check can truly understand what it's like to struggle. It might be why we get trickle down economics. I mean come on. Would you take a shower under a trickle? Grow crops under a trickle? If you are at the source of the trickle then it's a great view. If you are on the receiving end it just feels like you're getting pissed on.
Sorry, I digressed. The point of this is what would happen if I ever got accidentally elected? Well, even though I am VERY proud of my whopping four votes, I am comfortable that I will not find out what would happen any time too soon. But then again, there is a presidential election coming up. I got four votes in this last local election, anything is possible in a national election.